Aniston's comment angers mentally disabled

Advocates for the mentally disabled have denounced Jennifer Aniston because of her use of a derogatory term Thursday when she appeared on "Live! With Regis & Kelly."

Two minutes into the interview, during a discussion of Aniston's Barbra Streisand-inspired photo spread in the September issue of Harper's Bazaar, co-host Regis Philbin said to her, "You play dress up!"

Answered Aniston, "I play dress up. I do it for a living, like a retard." The audience laughed, and neither Philbin nor guest co-host KOST/Los Angeles radio personality Kristin Cruz showed any visible reaction, and continued chatting about the photos.

Peter Berns, chief executive of The Arc, a national advocacy organization for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, told Us magazine that Aniston's use of the word was "extraordinarily offensive and inappropriate."

"Frankly, someone in her position ought to know better," he added. "She is using language that is offensive to a large segment of the population in this country," including, he said, friends and relatives of the estimated 5 million mentally disabled.

"Every time folks hear that word, it kind of reminds them of all the discrimination and oppression they've experienced in their lives. Even if it wasn't intended to insult them, that is the effect of it."

Special Olympics spokeswoman Kirsten Seckler told the magazine, "Sadly, people use the word pervasively even if they don't realize it. . . . People with intellectual disabilities have fought their whole lives for understanding and recognition. When people continue to use the R word, it's hurtful."

Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff, was widely criticized for using the word pejoratively during a closed-door strategy session last August. After the slur was reported in January, Emanuel apologized.

President Barack Obama was similarly slammed for saying his bowling abilities were "like Special Olympics, or something" on "The Tonight Show" in March. Obama apologized before the segment aired.

Other celebs who have been criticized for using the word include Howard Stern and Lindsay Lohan.

Aniston was on the program to promote her movie "The Switch," a comedy about sperm-donors that co-stars Jason Bateman and opens Friday. Aniston's publicist did not respond to a phone call and an e-mail seeking comment.