CNN news anchor Brooke Baldwin breaks down in tears on live TV after anti-Trump guest uses the N-word
Author Charles Kaiser used the racial slur while listing things Trump adviser Stephen Bannon allegedly said or did
Author Charles Kaiser used the racial slur while listing things Trump adviser Stephen Bannon allegedly said or did
A TV news anchor was left in tears when a white anti-Trump campaigner used the word 'n****r' on live TV.
CNN's Brooke Baldwin was visibly shocked when author Charles Kaiser used the racial slur while listing things Donald Trump's adviser Stephen Bannon allegedly said or did last night.
It is the latest of a string of racially-charged incidents that have emerged since the billionaire won the US presidential election.
Baldwin immediately cut off the writer, adding: "Wow. Please don’t use the N-word on my show."
Former journalist Kaiser appeared on the show with Paris Dennard, a black Trump supporter, who thanked Baldwin for objecting to the racist insult.
Kaiser defended his use of the word, saying he doesn’t use it but was merely quoting someone else who allegedly did.
But Baldwin added: "We’re done. The more I’ve sat here and listened to the fact someone used the N-word on the show. It’s not OK. It is not OK.
"Charles Kaiser, I respect you and enjoy having you as a guest, not OK.
"By the way, the claim Mr. Bannon used the N-word? I’ve never heard of this, so there is that."
Kaiser apologised but defended his use of the word on Facebook after the show.
He wrote: "In the heat of the moment, I said the word n****r on CNN. What's worse, I think, is that I attributed its use to Bannon, rather than (Senator Jeff) Sessions, which was a mistake.
"I apologise to all those who were offended by my use of the word. But there is also a part of me that believes that you cannot convey the true horror of these early Trump appointments without using the actual words attributed to them.
"And as I said to my African-American debating opponent, I am horrified that any black person - or any decent American - would support Sessions' appointment as Attorney General."
Sessions was said to have used the racist term in 1981 when talking about the first black man to be elected as a county commissioner in Mobile, Alabama. He has denied the accusation.
Kaiser also posted a message of support from a black man, who wrote: "Obviously I can't speak for all Black people who watched today but I certainly realise quoting someone using the N-word does not convey support of or casual use of that word. I took no offence.
"And I agree with you, it is a disgrace that Black people are supporting Jeff Sessions (let alone Donald Trump)."
The incident comes just a day after footage emerged showing American nationalists celebrating Donald Trump’s election victory by giving Nazi salutes.
The video was taken the annual conference of alt-right think tank the National Policy Institute in Washington DC over the weekend.
Alt-right is made up of digitally savvy far-right and white nationalist commentators.
It is a broad, outspoken movement that attacks multiculturalism, globalisation and immigration.
Those writing under the umbrella term differ on many points but common targets include the establishment, feminism and political correctness.
The group supported President-elect Donald Trump in the US presidential race.
Those associated with the group – which has no clear ideology or membership – operate mostly through social media.
Trump has since "condemned and disavowed" the movement, which includes neo-Nazis, white supremacists and anti-Semites.