WebProNews

Tag: r-word

  • Kate Gosselin Calls Mothers of Multiples ‘Retarded’

    Kate Gosselin has allegedly used a slur that makes mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, grandparents, and friends of anyone who knows and loves a person with disabilities–especially Down Syndrome–bear their teeth and claws and go in for the kill. She reportedly said in an email that mothers of multiples are ‘retarded.’ First of all that word should never be used. A product of the 1950s, it describes what many then believed people with Down Syndrome or other intellectually-challenging disabilities to be. The word has no business being used in any context within the English language these days.

    Now before everyone starts tweeting Kate Gosselin and bashing her for her alleged use of the hereafter-referred-to ‘R-word,’ it’s very important to note that the source of this information is none other than the book written about Kate by Robert Hoffman. Hoffman’s explosive book, Kate Gosselin: How She Fooled the World, reads that a woman reached out to Kate’s ex-husband Jon Gosselin back in 2006 and asked him to become a member of a forum for parents of multiples.

    “On Dec. 31, 2006, Jon forwarded Kate an email that he had received the day before from the coordinator of something called the ‘MOST’ forum (MOST stands for Mothers of Supertwins). The forum coordinator, ‘Patti. T.’, asked Jon if he would post something to introduce himself and his family on the forum,” Robert wrote in his book. “It is not clear why Patti T.’s email annoyed Kate, but her curt response to Jon about it is offensive. Kate said, ‘These people are r-tarded.’”

    Radar Online was reportedly the first site to report Kate Gosselin’s alleged used of the offensive term. They reached out to the Special Olympics who shortly thereafter issued their own statement of disappointment in the former Jon & Kate Plus 8 star’s choice of words.

    “We encourage people to go to R-Word.org and take the pledge. It’s important because it’s respect toward everyone,” a Special Olympics rep said in a written statement.

    Do you think Kate Gosselin truly used this derogatory term in that email or is this something that Robert Hoffman simply made up? It’s a hideous word that sheds an unfavorable light on those who may learn differently or learn at a different pace. It’s definitely not a word anyone–but most especially any mother–should ever use.

    Image via Twitter

  • Kate Gosselin Allegedly Calls Mothers Support Group ‘The R-Word’

    Former reality TV star Kate Gosselin is under fire for allegedly describing mothers of multiples as “retarded” in an email she sent out. The email was obtained by author Robert Hoffman, who wrote the book Kate Gosselin: How She Fooled The World.

    According to a report, Hoffman wrote that Jon Gosselin forwarded an email to Kate from Patti T., the coordinator of the forum MOST or Mothers of Super Twins. In the email, Patti T. asked Jon if he was willing to post a message that would “introduce himself and his family to the forum.”

    Hoffman said that he does not know why the email annoyed Kate. She responded to Jon’s email saying, “These people are retarded.”

    Many advocacy groups are aiming to remove the r-word from the English vocabulary because of its offensive nature. Radar Online received a statement from the Special Olympics about Gosselin’s word choice, and they said, “We’re always saddened and disappointed when we hear of people using the r-word.”

    Gosselin is also under scrutiny, as there were also reports that she forced her children to take family vacations with her in order to improve the ratings of their reality show. In a report, Gosselin supposedly forced her daughter Mady to go on a trip to Alaska with former Governor Sarah Palin.

    Hoffman wrote about the incident in his book. “She absolutely did not want to go away for more filming and especially not as far away as Alaska. I know this because I went to Kate’s house that night with Jon to pick up Mady, and I heard the discussion between Jon and Kate—through the intercom at the gate.”

    It is not the first time Hoffman revealed Gosselin’s emails. In a former revelation, Hoffman revealed a letter she wrote to the State of Pennsylvania wherein she pleaded for free childcare aid for her “disabled” children.

    ‘The R-Word’: Why It’s Offensive

    Image via YouTube

  • Joe Flacco Pledges Not to Use the R-Word

    This year, just before the Super Bowl, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (the self-proclaimed best quarterback in the NFL) stated that holding the Super Bowl in non-domed venues where the weather is cold is “retarded.” He immediately took his words back, calling it “stupid” instead, but the word had been said.

    Flacco issued a public apology on Super Bowl media day, saying it was “a bad choice of words.” This week, the Ravens’ starting quarterback is going even further.

    The Special Olympics of Maryland this weekend held a “Casino Night” to promote the Special Olympics and related organizations. At the event, Flacco and his teammates Gino Gradkowski and Ed Dickson signed a pledge not to use the word retarded. The Facebook post:

    (image)

    Special Olympics Maryland3 hours ago

    We had a blast on Saturday at Al Packer’s White Marsh Ford Casino Night – games, prizes, and Spread the Word to End the Word pledge signing! Thanks to everyone who made it out, including Baltimore Ravens Joe Flacco, Gino Gradkowski and Ed Dickson.

    Powered by socialditto(image)  20 likes ·  0 comments

    The pledge is part of the “Spread the Word to End the Word” campaign, which seeks raise awareness that the words retard and retarded are seen by many as “dehumanizing and hurtful.” The campaign is a joint effort by the Special Olympics and Best Buddies International.

    (Image courtesy Keith Allison/Wikimedia Commons)