"I'm not going to take a chance ever in life of losing everything I worked for for 30 years because some f***ing n***er heard us say 'N***er' and turned us into the Enquirer magazine."
Those were the words uttered by Duane "Dog" Chapman in a taped phone conversation that was posted online Wednesday by (ironically) The National Enquirer (warning: link to audio clip contains extremely harsh language). Chapman has gained fame as the subject of the reality show Dog the Bounty Hunter on A&E.;
The fallout was swift; A&E; has stopped production of the show, according to the Associated Press. The cable network released the following statement: "We take this matter very seriously. Pending an investigation, we have suspended production on the series. When the inquiry is concluded, we will take appropriate action."
In the phone conversation, Chapman was advising his son Tucker to break up with his girlfriend, who is black. However, in the conversation, Chapman claims his reasoning is not racially motivated and is instead because she is of bad character and he and his crew use the "N-word" in day-to-day life and it could be misinterpreted.
"It's not that they're black, it's none of that," he says in the recording. "We don't mean 'you f***ing scum n***er without a soul,' we don't mean that sh*t, but America would think we mean that. We're not taking a chance of losing everything we got over a racial slur."
Chapman immediately apologized for his comments after the recording was released online. "I did not mean to add yet another slap in the face to an entire race of people who have brought so many gifts to this world," Chapman said. "I am ashamed of myself and I pledge to do whatever I can to repair this damage I have caused."
He also says his words have been taken out of context, and his intentions were not racially motivated. "I was disappointed in his choice of a friend, not due to her race, but her character. However, I should have never used that term."
Dog the Bounty Hunter, one of A&E;'s top-rated shows, follows Chapman and his crew (many of which are family) as they bounty-hunt criminals in Honolulu, Hawaii.
[UPDATE] A&E; has taken the punishment a step further and pulled the show from its schedule, according to the Associated Press. However, it has not been canceled.
"In evaluating the circumstances of the last few days, A&E; has decided to take Dog The Bounty Hunter off the network's schedule for the foreseeable future," the network said. "We hope that Mr. Chapman continues the healing process that he has begun."
I know that this was a long time ago, but I just wanted to add something to those who are putting the dog down. ( Forgive the humor in that) How ever the first person to never say something they didn't really mean when they were angry or upset throw the first stone. People are so funny they are so fast to point fingures when they should check themselves before they ridicule. and we all kow that the pappirozzi will do and say anything to make a rise over things. Get facts before you start to condemn, and remember for you little few who read things in magazines and think their the gosple truth. THEY ARE NOT!!!!!!!
I am curious. Why can black ppl call white ppl crackers, rednecks and other vile foul names but as soon as whites speak thier minds either in private or in public(like they do) it gets blown all up? Dog had a right to speak his mind in A PRIVATE CONVERSATION like we all do. it is none of anyones biusness what he says in private. Why do the blacks call each other the N word if they are offended by it? Dont it mean the same thing no matter what? Or is it just a way for them to cry more racial crap?I am so tired of all the racial guilt trips they lay on us. Listen to all the rap music. What is the difference between us saying the same thing they say if they say it too? CRAZY! They are just as racist as they say the whites are too. They just dont admit it.They have freedom of speach, dont white ppl? Honestly I am so tired of the slavery pitty card. My family never owned one of them, we are all too poor.So they need to take the chip off their shoulder and get over it!moreless
I think that whatever someone says in their own home is their own buisness. Anything Dog said is not anywhere close to being as obnoxious as the rap song lyrics.Why can black ppl get away with calling us "cracker" "rednecks" and other verbally abusive, racial slurs? Truthfully, the slave card has been over played for years.So tired of all the stupid games and favoritism. Honestly no one I knows has ever owned one so I dont feel no sympathy. Bring Dog back or take off every black racial movie ever made, and there are lots of them. A&E didnt bust Miami Ink for the Jewish slur so whats the difference? NONE! except that Dog is WHITE! Common discrimination and he should sue. I am so tired for being blamed and the giult trip for some crap that I know my family didnt do. I know that they didnt cause they were all poor. But I am also tired of of all the one sided racial crap. Even blacks are racial or we wouldnot be called crackers and other stupid garbage.moreless
A&E are cowards affraid of the press behind a mans private phone call. Shame on you Tucker Chapman for selling your own father out for a few bucks. One of the reasons I enjoy watching the show is because of how real the Chapmans are, what you see is what you get avearage ordinary people with the same problems every other family has. I always appreciated the Chapmans honesty about how they feel concerning live in general. It's a reality show a show that show the struggles of a family that has climbed a very high and steap latter to get to where they are today. Just because he used racial slurrs everything his family worked so hard to obtain has been ripped from them. They are far from being perfect and never have pretended to be, they have shown their best of times and worst of times for all to watch. One of the reasons I like the show so much is because the Dog took his weakness and turned them into a strength. He found a way to make some money for his family and to do something he enjoys at the same time. I love to watch their family work through their problems, it allows others to realize that we are not alone in the world that everyone faces the same issues everyday. I am sure the Dog rubs some people the wrong way but so do many other entertainers in the buisness. I am not rasist and really don't understand it, however that is my opinion and it's supose to be a country where one has the right to speak their own opinion, exspecially in a private phone conversation. Shame on you Dog for appologizing for speaking your mind. You have every right to voice your opinion whether or not anyone else likes it or not. Freedom of speach A&E Freedom of speach. Again I call you Cowards for not standing behind the Chapmans. It's so annoying to me that the Dog isn't allowed to voice his opinion but rag magazines can print lie after lie and they are shut down or put out of buisness. Yeah it always comes down to the double standard. If a black man insults a white man no big deal, but if a white man insults a black man my god the worlds going to come apart at the seams. Get over it. The Dog was speaking to his son and not to the world. He was angry and which one of you out there hasn't said things you regret out of anger. My hats off to you Beth you are the clue that binds your entire family together, Without you well I'd hate to see what would happen to your family. Good luck to the Chapmens and I truely hope A&E see's the error of their ways, because I will no longer be watching that station unless they bring the Dog back.moreless
If we were able to hear the private conversations of every television personality or movie star, and they were fired for offending someone, there would be no more television or movies. Same goes for the mucky-mucks who do the firing and every governmental official; same goes for almost all of us. Then what? Who will talk about freedom of speech? It's time to get real and get over the freakin' N-word thing - grow up and wince if it bothers you. Bring Dog back - he's a terrific example of how a person can turn their life around and overcome stupid choices young people often make. He's compassionate and tough and he has a dirty mouth, but I enjoy watching him and Beth!
Why was someone taping a PRIVATE phone conversation? It's not fair for people on the outside to judge Dog for what he had said; he doesn't appear to be a discrimitive man, if anything he appears to think of people of equals.
Whatever happens, it happens for a reason.
Dog should be ashamed of himself for using the N-word! I myself used the N-word 23 years ago! I am not proud of it. A&E should cancel this show permenantly. Really, why the N-word? Was Dog hoping to get ratings like that? No! In my house, the N-word is not used! I go to church, but I hope to be heading to Florida soon. well have a great day.
So Dog used the N-word, eh? Well personally for me growing up as a teenager, I myself used to use the N-word for a short time, until I realized what I did was wrong. We all make mistakes. I am living proof of that! I am 40 years old now, and I have not used that word in 23 years! I am so ashamed of Dog the Bounty Hunter. Cancel Dog, A&E!
Seriously? this investigation has gone on for 2 MONTHS! how long does it take to investigate a PRIVATE phone conversation?! and I'm disappointed in Tucker. Seriously to feed your own father to the sharkers shows he has no respect for him. I'm boycotting A&E until DTBH comes back. and from what I hear A&E's ratings have dropped severly, serves them right for covering their own asses, instead of standing up for Dog! BRING THE DOG BACK!
So it's fine for this word to be used in rap songs but not in private phone conversations. If someone black calls me a white trash I can have their show pulled off the air and demand formail apologys ? Shame on Dog's son, what a way to make a quick buck.... only in the states !
How many coloureds use this word on a daily basis? Surely in this "multicultural" world if a coloured person can use the N word, then why cant a caucasian? This is just political correctness gone mad. How many executives at A&E have used this very same word at one time or another I ask myself. Despite his chequered past, Dog is a good man at heart, as are all the Chapmans. A&E need to pull their collective fingers out and get the Dog back on the air.
The N word does NOT refer to the color of one's skin/ There are white N's as well. It is not a racial term. Dog's intitled to his privacy. BRING HIM BACK. It's not as though he said it publicly. It was a family issue and none of anyone else's business. Shame on his son for selling it to the public - and thereby ruining his father's career and depriving those who so look forward to his shows. Shame on him. You don't air your dirty laundry in public and is he so perfect? Maybe the girlfriend isn't a good person. Maybe Dog has a reason for calling her names. Bottom lone: NONE OF OUR BUSINESS. BRING THE SHOW BACK ON & GET OVER IT. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO WATCH HIM DUE TO THIS, DON'T WATCH HIM! BUT THOSE OF US THAT DO WANT TO WATCH HIM SHOULD HAVE THE OPTION! THIS IS CENSORSHIP AND IT NEEDS TO STOP!moreless
Ok, so I think this is all bull crap. Dog should be put back on. It is crazy to do this to him, when I was watching the tv the other day and heard an African American famous guy say, "we need to act white". He said he tells that to people or something so if they needed an ambulance that thats how they needed to act on the phone otherwise they won't get any help, it was in response to Sean Taylor from Washington Redskins getting shot in the leg, and dieing from it. Well if Dog gets introuble why doesn't the guy that made that comment? Some free country we live in. I mean they want equal rights, well I don't see them treating us equally.
How come A&E will take the show off the air but they still $ell 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' merchandi$e on their web$ite.....hmm? ;^)
A/E should be ashamed as in a previous episode a blurb was inserted over a near identical slur during a recent take-down on the show. This was just a couple of weeks prior to the Enquiror incident. How dare they act so high and mighty by stopping production and airing of the show after the fact that they really did not give a damb when they blurbed it out prior to the whole world involvement. Booooo bring back the dog! he never once called anyone a N----- he made an analagy to his s---ass son in a private phone conversation!!!! Bring back the ZDOG
I think that it is good that A&E took Dog off of the air. I am a Native American Indian and the Dog has Disrespected one of the elders in Hawaii and to the Indian people that is also a big deal just as bad as calling someone the N word.
Can anyone honestly say that they are not guilty of making a comment or slur about anyone? I know I can't. Is what he said right, absolutely not but has anyone ever thought what about the son selling this for money. Did he donate the money to any charity or organization? Nope he kept it. Everyone is human and everyone says something out of turn about another race or persons appearance. I thought we were all one race, the human race. So if you can judge Dog then your a better person than me.
You know I really hope that Dog and his family reads these messages because I think that everyone here has an interesting point of view.I watch this show faithfully every Tuesday and I'm upset that it has been taken off the air. I am well educated black woman and when I heard what dog said I was very upset. The word N***R has a lot of pain behind it and I can understand why other men and woman of my race would be upset. On the other hand though we as African Americans have to think about how many times we ourselves use that word in reference to others in our own race!!!! I really think dog used a bad choice of words, but THE MAN HAS A GOOD HEART!! There aren't to many bounty hunters who pray and keep the faith on National Television and try to better other peoples lives. In the end we all need to learn how to take the word N***R out of our vocabulary. WHITES AND BLACKS!!moreless
ok so duane Chapman said the N word.How many times have I heard white people say that to blacks? how many times has blacks called whites names?and Tucker had no reason to go to the press.It was a private conversation.Say you had a private conversation with someone you said some bad things ya didnt really mean in the way people took it? would you like it broadcast? really think about this before ya criticize someone for something they said in a way you took wrong!
Vil4Real2- are you saying that it is ok for your race to sit there and call white people "cracker" but its not ok for us to call you guys what the topic of this whole ordeal is over? I think everyone is just this whole thing over the top and they need to just let it go. We have all said something we didn't mean. Its a part of life, grow up and move on.
As an African American, I am appalled by Dog's statement about Tucker's girlfriend. However, Dog does have freedom of speech. This was a private conversation between Dog and his son, Tucker. Tucker chose to make the conversation public.
I wonder did Tucker consider how this would effect the rest of his family. He targeted Dog, and now the rest of the family has to pay. Did Tucker do this out of revenge, or did he do it for the money.
Dog has apologized, A&E need to get a life and put Dog's show back on the air. We all make mistakes, I know I have and I have said things that I regret and can never take back.
Tucker needs to realize how much he is hurting his family. Beth, Tim, Leland, Baby Lisa and Duane Lee are all suffering, because of what Tucker did to his father.moreless
ok first of all, Dog wasn't talking about every black person in the universe. He was referring to his scum bag son's girlfriend, and he wasn't meaning it against her race...haven't any of you ever said something you know you shouldn't have in the heat of anger, just because that was one of the worst things you could say at the moment? dog is a good person, and they should just bring the show back.
Vil4Real2 first of all that is ancestors not u . You say we don't know how it is until we walk in ur shoes that goes for any one ,any race . it is just a word people grow up and i hope a&e bring dog back cause that is the only show i watch on there ( a verey good show)
I'm glad A&E put his show on hiatus, because contrary to what others might think, Dog is a bigot. I'm a black woman and you can't understand the hurtfulness of that word coming from anybody white until you have walked in a black person's shoes. You won't understand unless you have had ancestors that were called that word every day of their lives. You won't understand unless you have parents that got beat down, spit on and called that name while they marched for their rights in this country. So you can say it's just a word and that he can say what he wants, I believe that makes you the same as him. And for Dog who stated that he didn't mean it in that content it was just about her character, what is the characteristic of a N----r? If that was truly the case, why didn't you call her a b***h or a c**t, those or the names I think you would have called her if she was any other race and you didn't like her character.
There's an old saying, "be careful what you say, because your mouth might write a check that you’re a** can't cash."moreless
I would like for one of the Dog's family or fans to please create a family tree for this white trash loser. How many kids does he have that don't have his last name? How many women did he knock up and abandon? How many of his white trash loser kids have drug addictions? And, finally, will someone please tell him to stop creating inbred, weird looking stupid children?
I so love Dog and his family. I wish this world would look the word up in the dictionary to find the true meaning. I believe that is the way Dog was using the term. They need to leave him be and let him do his job and let us watch it. There comes a time that people need to sit back and really listen to things and how they are said instead of jumping the gun. A&E needs to bring the show back or I will never ever watch another thing on that channel. And as for the Enquirer, you can't always believe what you read or hear with them. Why don't they play the whole conversion. There is more to it I am sure. But then they wouldn't have anything bad to say about someone, cause that is all they are out to do. They make a living on telling lies and recking lives. How do the editors sleep at night.
God Bless The Chapman Family. I know they will make it through this. I have made it through a lot in life. They will with this as well.moreless
HOW REDICULOUS,.. suspending the "Dog" after a racial slur. This man is NOT a racist. He felt threatened & while in protection mode for his son he made a human error in a poor choice of words to express his point of view. LOVE THE DOG,..BRING HIM BACK.
I am a criminal justice student .and what i have heard is the biggest laod of bull*** that I have ever laid my eyes on .. if you would have listend to the tape you would have known that the statements made are not focused on any race... I am very disappointed that a what some may consider a major reading source of information would even stoop as low as this "the national enquirer"... If he did say the N word so what?? its just a *** word .. that people have drawn the wrong definition about .. look it up .. the word is not faced on ANY one race ..post this to your blog site .. see how many agree with me after hearing the full tape or what is procieved as .. there is alot to this story that has been cut out and put for the public ears .. just remember what you do to people will come back and bite you in the *** .. let's see....cut the crap and leave celebrities alone considering most people look at their flaws and are disgusted when in reality the VAST majority of the population is actually worse than that ... and let's cut down on hypocrisy as well shall we? because other etinicities have the "right" to say S*** about caucasian people with any slur they choose appropriate for them moment and call one another all sort of *** like "n***a" or whatever other utilization of the word BUT should a white guy EVER say something like that.......lord have mercy he is using racial slurs ... people should start saying what they THINK without being afraid of politically correct jerkoffs ... guess what suckers? there is nothing in the constitution that protects our feelings so guess what? if I want to say that black people use the "discrimination" card 90% of the time to cover for their own shortcomings and to get out of messes they created for themselves I CAN and I SHOULD.....and go ahead, censor it if you have but I really dun care
... and I should not worry about others going "No man that is wrooooong...you do not say things like that is offensive".......so f*** what it's the truth just at my wife's workplace I see it every day with people that should get fired immediately for inability to perform their jobs but OMG they are NOT white so they could sue us and win even if it was obvious they were ill qualified for the position ... people should watch more "mind of mencia" ... people keep acting like words hurt...sure they might make you feel inadequate or offend you if someone puts your shortcoming in the open ......so cut the crying if I call someone the forbidin N word because he pissed me off it's not like I shot him in the face and I should not be arrested or fired for it like Dog .. I bet you WHATEVER you want, that if some random black guy that worked for XYZ network called Dog a "white trailer trash redneck craker" he would not be in trouble.....and why? because this politically correct bs does not apply to them and you know what REEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAALLY gets to me?they are all high and mighty preaching about how we have stereotypical visions of them -by "them" I mean black people- but have you seen the movies they direct????? How High? Little Man? don't be a menace? Soul Plane?....WTF YOU do not want US to have a stereotypical vision of your etnicity but STILL you present it to us in ANY media? movies? music? books? ANYTHING it just ALL the same bs man.......ALL of it....the REAL problems are the ones WE are making for ourself for some odd reason....yeah so...uhm.....Dog called this chick the N word....so WHAT???? did he hurt her? no....so why should anyone care it's not like people do not insult one another on dayly basis...but suddenly it's worse because he is a celebrity.....why? ever heard the things that spews out of the mouth of some drivers when you cut them off?and it applies to EVERYTHING else.....the hypocrisy behind censorship, politically correct, sexual harassment/sexism....ESRB ratings.....they are all revolving around the problems we make for ourselves...they are non-issues that people consider to be the plague of this new century where as they can be taken care of by the people if they simply start to THINK for themselves rather than..listen to a bunch of morons on TV that propose to them the "correct" way to view the world! I think we all need to stop and think about all this.Noone has mentioned that Dog's own son taped the phone conversation and sold it .. Noone mentioned the fac that Dog himself was trying to knock some sense into his child, his blood. Sources on the internet say that Tucker Chapman (Dog's son) was suposidly in prison for 4 years, on a 20 year stay, was charged with kid napping, drugs, assault and who knows what, since he has been with this girl. It was her character that Tucker's family did not like. Lets set back for a minute.. If you were a partent and one of your children strayed away and have chosen bad friends and a bad companion, allof a sudden your child gets into so much trouble and being a parent you are sick of worries and try like heck to knock some sense into your child, whether it was by words or your own hand, because it doesnt matter the age of your kids, they are still our children, and when they are in trouble they always come running to the family for help and support. Why is it wrong for a parent to try and knock some sense into their own kids??.. I feel for Dog and his family. From a 8 minute tape and Dog's son turning it in for money, Dog may lose his home in Hawaii, his bail bonds company, all of it because of his own flesh and blood.All because of a private phone conversation between a parent and their child, Dog gets punished. What is wrong with America today..??. You are saying that its ok to use bad words on a TV sitcom,movie,show and it's ok to use the N word in music including rap (I listen to alot of).. Are you gonna tell me that YOU have never swore in the privatcy of your own home? That you have never said something that later you regret? Give it a rest and look at the whole picture here. Look at it from a parents point of view and not because he is a celeb. I will continue to love the Dog he has done so much for so manymoreless
I just think that this is all sad. We get blasted for calling someone of another race a "racist" term. But they can call us any name in the book and we have to sit back and take it. That is wrong. I think America needs to grow up and realize they need to treat everyone equally. If you can't treat everyone nicely move to another country. I am tired of being told as a white person that I can't talk anyway I want, but someone else can. You know what, if ya don't like it BOOHOO. Whatever happened to freedom of speech? This is America, Land of the Free right?
Sharkbt, you said it best. I agree with you completely and I cannot imagine how unfair it would be if some of the things I have said in a heated conversation ever made the the National Enquire! Where and when will it end, do we all need to be painted purple to find time to work on things in this world that require serious attention?
This is dumb. Poor Dog. :roll:
OMG!!! what a load of BS!!!
If this kind of censorship were to be applied to rap/hip-hop music, that genre would be totally off the air.
I couldn't have said anything better than Pair-a-noid and amethyst1313. People it is a word. On the news they stated that it was okay for a black person to call another black person a "N" but no one else. Double standard what is good for one is okay for all. I didn't think his conversation was that bad he said it had nothing to do with race, so when did it become wrong for a parent to discuss their childrens chose of friends. I am totally upset with A&E one of my favorite channels. I will miss watching the shows on there. I hope Dog is picked up by another station. A&E should of shown support and stood behind his apology for a private conversation. Shame on you A&E for being so quick to judge from such a reliable source. Never judge someone until you walk a day in their moccasins. I guess A&E doesn't live in a glass house so they can cast the first stone. I'm done with A&E it has been blocked on my TV.
That's All Folks!moreless
bring dog back
When u listen to the whole conversation that was recorded, u may have a different perspective from what may have been gathered by the media sound bite.
If Dog is going to be punished so should all of the overt racists on BET, VH1, MTV and so on. Racism is not a monopoly that is owned and operated by a sinle ethnic group.
a&e should put dog back otherwise im never watching that channel again.im confused its ok for black people to call us racist names but if we say something we get jailed
A & E should put "The Bounty Hunter" back into the lineup. Duane Chapman's personal conversation was a private matter and no one else's business
We love "The Dog"
Beth put a muzzle on the dog. Why do you dog constantly try to wreck your and your families lifes. Stay away from this kid, he is a golddigger who has been trying to set you up for years. As for A@E suspending your show, maybe A@E should concentrate on Beth, and the other members who are out doing the job. Forget the dog,put him in the background, and carry on.
And anybody were supprised, why? We all knew he wasn't Saint Frances of Assisi.
Duane "DOG" Chapman = Garbage.
Why would anyone want to take a peice of garbage out of the trash and try to clean it over and over. Throw the garbage in the trash and forget about it.
thejoemaster_1
ouch you hurt me ...NOT .. because those were just words put togather to get a negative responce from me .. try again brother we still love you as God love all his childern even the one that really don't deserve it
JamesandTina: "I am a criminal justice student"
You mean your rambling might eventually find it's way into a courtroom? God helps us all.
What suprise me with all of this is the fact that A&E belive what was printed in a tablod newspaper and most of the stuff that they print is false. I think he will be back on another network and that network can used this. But Dog also has to watch what he said, even in his own home because he now an A-list celebry and this also reminds me of the whole Alex Balwin tape phone call that he had with his daughter, which he was yelling at her because she did something that got himself angry at her.
A&E is a company, "Dog" is an employee. He represents A&E and when you use vulgar language, I don't care what word it is, if it's written into his contract then yes they can fire him and cancel his show. Now I'm no legal expert but as an African America who doesn't use the N-word like many of you are stereotyping some blacks do, it doesn't make it right. Even if other blacks do it it doesn't make it right.
Dog, The Bounty Hunter, did not deserve to be cancelled over a remark that Duane made in the privacy of his own home. It's unfornunate that his son Tucker decided to to the immature thing and sell a private phone conversation to the tabloid rather than listen to what his father had to tell him. prejudice is found in all races, blacks especially. It's fine for them to say ho and *** to each other but when a white person says the same thing to a member of their race, we are the racists. Racism cuts both ways and when it does, so long to freedom of speech. Duane did the responsible thing and apologized but apparently it wasn't enough for A&E executives. I'm sure the Dog will be back just like Don Imus.moreless
What ever happened to the first amendment freedom of speech. I never heard of anyone getting into trouble for calling a white person a cracker but a white person can't say n***.
Dog is free to say what he wants, but I can't imagine a single advertiser wanting their product associated with this PR trainwreck. No advertisers = no $ = no show = more CSI reruns. BTW, remember when A&E actually showed the upscale "arts and entertainment" that gave it its name? Feels like 12 years and several eons ago.
Utterly ridiculous he is in trouble for this. His remarks were clearly NOT meant in a racist manner, regardless of whether the usage of the N-word is offensive to someone or not. It was a private conversation sold to a freaking tabloid.
This is political correctness run amok yet again. A+E should be ashamed.
And for the guy who said "all that god talk" annoys him... Wow, now THAT'S intolerance. But of course since it's anti-Christian no one really cares.
never watched it means more csi miami lol