'I don't want a retard' ---Margaret Cho

I apologize in advance for the cruelty and ignorance of these words spoken by Margaret Cho, "My period comes like twice a month.  My eggs are jumping ship.  Seriously, they're like, 'the last one out's a retard.'"

As reported by Fox news, Cho made the insulting comments while appearing on Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live" talk show hosted by Andy Cohen on May 30, 2012.


About six months ago I was watching "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" and Kim Zolciak used the R-word multiple times.  I emailed Andy Cohen (he produces the show along with many other Bravo reality shows) and asked him if he could please bleep the R-word out and reasoned that as a gay individual, he would probably be offended watching a show that used the F-word (f*g) to describe homosexuals and that many people are just as offended by the R-word.


I didn't get a response to my email or request, but when watching "The Real Housewives of New Jersey", Joe Gorga used the R-word in a text and his sister-in-law and brother-in-law had a discussion about how people shouldn't use that word. Since then, I have not heard the R-word used on Bravo.  Possibly thanks to Andy Cohen's intervention?  Maybe. I hope so and if it was because of him, I thank him sincerely.  


This latest use of the R-word on Bravo was during a live telecast and you can watch what happens (no pun intended) here on Breibert.com.  The live audience laughs, but Andy Cohen does look rather uncomfortable and Rosie Pope looks at Cho with shock.  


Cho then says, "I get worried about that, as an older woman, I don't necessarily want to have a retard."  


Cohen shakes his head back and forth and eventually says, "You can't say that.  You can't say that."  


Cho was on the show to promote her new comedy tour ironically titled "Mother."  


As of June 1, 2012, Cho had posted two apologies on her blog.  The first apology is short and seems forced.  The second apology seems somewhat more sincere, however, I will not be purchasing any tickets to see her comedy tour.

Did HBO and Julia Louis-Dreyfus' New Show Veep Use The R-Word?

We only saw the last few minutes of the show, but I am hearing that they did use the R-Word in the new show "Veep" on HBO. If this is the case, then we need to write to both HBO and the writers on the show. Can anyone confirm?

10 Words Moms Shouldn't Say - Check Out #3!

My sister forwarded me an article from Circle of Moms.  The article is called 10 Words to Avoid in Front of Your Kids.  She followed up with a phone call and was so excited to find out whether or not I had read the article.  Thanks for sharing this, Lu!  I think this article is wonderful and I'm committed to helping spread the word.  Check out number 3!!!



Here is what Joey thought of this wonderful article (with one of his favorite men- Richard K.):

Huge kudos to Circle of Moms for this wonderful reminder and especially for including the R-word in this list.  What is so interesting to me is the number of words on this list that we were forbidden from using when we were kids.  I'm grateful my parents taught us that words have power.  What words were you not supposed to use when you were a kid?

10 Words to Avoid in Front of Your Kids

Out of the mouths of babes . . . As parents, we know that anything that's uttered within earshot of our kids is fair game for repetition. And while eliminating all of those four-letter favorites is a no-brainer, there are plenty of others that can be just as damaging. Here, the 10 words we suggest that you ban from your vocabulary in front of your kids.

1. Hate: You might be talking about rush hour traffic, a line at the grocery store, or a bad commercial on TV. But when it's used to talk about a classmate, teacher, or birthday gift, "hate" can be terribly hurtful.

2. Stupid: There's not much that's less appreciated than being called "stupid," and this is one that lil ones tend to enjoy repeating . . . again and again and again.

3. Retard: A word that's so offensive, there's an entire website devoted to banishing it. If you haven't already done so, you should get on board and eliminate the R-word from your adult vocabulary as well.

4. Gay: Unless your child is old enough to have a conversation about homosexuality, chances are, the word "gay" is going to be misused in a potentially hurtful (not to mention, incorrect) manner.

5. Loser: With bullying at the forefront of most parents' minds, putting down someone's self-esteem is something that you, and your kids, should never be a part of.

6. Dumb: See above.

7. No: We know you're not actually going to eliminate the word "no" from your repertoire. But try to limit its frequency. It seems to roll off the tips of toddlers' tongues way too easily.

8. Shut up: Make this a forbidden phrase now to avoid its overuse later. Tweens tend to enjoy overusing it at times when it doesn't even really make sense (think: "He asked her out?! Shut up!").

9. God (as in "Oh my God!"): If religion is present in your home, the word "God" will be, too. However, try not to use it as an exclamation of excitement or surprise. Even if "Oh my God!" doesn't bother you personally, you never know when it will come off offensive to someone else.

10. Bad: Like "no," it's one that's inevitably going to come up, but shouldn't be used excessively. Being told that you're "bad" repeatedly can be totally demoralizing for a child (or anyone, for that matter).