The editor-in-chief of conservative magazine National Review found himself in hot water after he was accused by some of uttering a racial slur during a Sunday appearance on Megyn Kellys SiriusXM show.
The editor, Rich Lowry, claims it was a slip of the tongue and that he meant to say migrants, which is the word he appeared to garble.
It occurred while he and Kelly were discussing JD Vances recent appearance on CNN, where Donald Trumps vice presidential pick defended the former presidents unsubstantiated comments about Haitian migrants eating cats and dogs.
As part of his explanation, Vance said: If I have to create stories so that the American media pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then thats what Im going to do.
Vance clarified his comments after host Dana Bash seized on the phrase create stories, saying he meant that he created the actual focus on whats going on in Springfield, Ohio, a town that has seen 15,000 or so Haitians move there over the last four years.
While agreeing with Vances explanation, Lowry said that Springfield police have found Springfield residents calling to complain about migrants taking geese from ponds.
Megyn Kelly, left, invited National Review editor-in-chief Rich Lowry on her show Sunday. The two talked about the cats and dogs story out of Springfield, Ohio, that Donald Trump gave fuel to during the presidential debate last week
During this discussion, many on social media believe Lowrys apparent mispronunciation of the word migrants sounded like the N-word
In this sentence, Lowry stumbled over the word migrants - and some are saying his initial pronunciation sounded like the N-word.
Madeline Peltz, who works for the left-wing group Media Matters, was the first person to draw attention to the sound bite.
Having a hard time coming to any conclusion besides the obvious one about what Rich Lowry catches himself blurting out here, she wrote in a post on X.
One user replied to Peltzs post by including a video of the moment in slow motion, emphasizing the pronunciation.
Another user added: I wonder how much you have to say that word for your brain to default to it?
Some were of the opinion that Lowry didnt almost say it, but completed the word.
Andy McCarthy, a fellow editor at National Review, jumped in to defend his colleague against the onslaught of racism allegations.
Andy McCarthy, a fellow editor at National Review, jumped in to defend Lowry against the onslaught of racism allegations. Lowry reposted his colleagues explanation and agreed
Kelly also defended Lowry amid the backlash
Kelly took the opportunity to speak highly of Lowrys character amid the backlash.
This is so disgusting and obviously leveled by someone that doesn’t know @RichLowry at all. A finer, more gracious man of good character you will never meet, she wrote in response to McCarthy.