Jennifer Aniston is under fire for using a controversial word on live TV.
"You play dress up!" observed Regis Philbin.
"I play dress up! I do it for a living, like a retard," said Aniston.
Aniston's remark drew a big laugh from the audience, but many advocacy groups for the mentally challenged say the "r-word" is not funny!
The crack is now being blasted as "extraordinarily offensive and inappropriate."
"Frankly, someone in her position ought to know better," said the CEO of one organization. And a representative for the Special Olympics also went after Aniston, writing, "The pervasive use of the r-word, even in an off-the-cuff, self-deprecating manner, dehumanizes people...and perpetuates painful stereotypes."
Aniston isn't the first high-profile personality to ignite controversy with the r-word. White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel sparked a firestorm earlier this year when it was revealed that he used the term "[expletive deleted] retarded" in a private political strategy session.
Emmanuel apologized, but Sarah Palin is still so angry she denounced him on her Facebook page, calling his r-word comment "crude and disrespectful."