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Tags: kristi capel | lady gaga | racial | slur | oscars

Kristi Capel, News Anchor, Blurts Out Racial Slur to Describe Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga performs songs from "The Sound of Music" during the 87th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California February 22, 2015. (Mike Blake/Reuters/Landov)

By Jonna Lorenz | Monday, 23 February 2015 02:41 PM EST

Kristi Capel, an Ohio Fox News anchor, is under attack after using a racial slur while discussing Lady Gaga's "Sound of Music" tribute at Sunday's Oscars.

In a recap of Lady Gaga’s performance during the Academy Awards, Capel remarked that she didn’t realize the singer had such a beautiful voice.

“It’s hard to really hear her voice with all the jigaboo music that she does,” the WJW-TV anchor said while waving her arms. “Whatever you want to call it. Jigaboo. She has a gorgeous voice. I never knew.”

The station’s news director, Andy Fishman, said the slur was unintentional, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported.

"She didn't even know what the word meant, which is not an excuse," Fishman said, according to the Plain Dealer. "We've spoken to her about this, and we're confident it won't happen again. From here, we'll handle it internally."

Capel apologized on Twitter.

I deeply regret my insensitive comment. I didn't know the meaning and would never intentionally use hurtful language. I sincerely apologize
— Kristi Capel (@Kristi_Capel) February 23, 2015

But Twitter users seemed unimpressed by the apology.

@Kristi_Capel An educated professional woman has never heard of the word jigaboo to know it was a slur? this is hard to believe
— 50 Shade's of BAE (@JeSuisDawn) February 23, 2015

Shame on @fox8news for not firing @Kristi_Capel after hurling a racial slur on a newscast. #fail http://t.co/pUBGA6quAM
— In The KNOW (@YoureInTheKNOW) February 23, 2015

.@Kristi_Capel Quit thanking people for watching you sling out a racial slur TWICE on tv. It's not IF people were offended, IT IS OFFENSIVE.
— Julius Grant (@JuliusGrant) February 23, 2015

.@Kristi_Capel no way you can convince me that you didn't know that "jiggaboo" was a racial slur
— Silky Johnson (@dcmadness202) February 23, 2015

expecting @FoxNews to give @Kristi_Capel a National platform after her "innocent" racial slur re: #Oscars: https://t.co/WW4JOTCLjI @deray
— ∆ ♇! ∆ (@MxPhoenix) February 23, 2015

@deray @mikedelic @Kristi_Capel Being fair, though, jiggaboo is the one slur that's too ridiculous for me to get upset about.
— J Onwuka (@jefeonwuka) February 23, 2015

@mystery79 @Kristi_Capel What additional context does one need to understand a racial slur?
— Carla Stillwell (@MsStillwell) February 23, 2015

Do you people really think Kristi Capel is going to knowingly use a racial slur on air while talking to her black co-anchor?
— R Bundy (@OneOHGirl) February 23, 2015

Of course, if you feel that Kristi Capel made a verbal mistake, you're classified as a racist in 2015 America. Yay, groupthink!!!
— Tony Mazur (@TonyMazur) February 23, 2015