Last week, comedian and late night host Samantha Bee apologized after referring to Ivanka Trump as a "feckless c-nt."
Conservatives, still licking their wounds from Roseanne‘s cancelation and eager for payback, raised their voices online. Even Trump demanded Bee’s firing.
On Wednesday night, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee‘s newest episode began with a cold open in which Bee addressed the controversy.
During Full Frontal‘s cold open, Samantha addresses the camera and her audience with a somber tone.
"You know, a lot of people were offended and angry that I used an epithet to describe the president’s daughter and adviser last week."
She referred to Ivanka as feckless, meaning that she is irresponsible, but that was not the word that had people up in arms.
"It is a word I have used on the show many times hoping to reclaim it."
In most English-speaking countries, the c-word does not carry the scandalous weight that it does in the United States. Clearly, Bee would like for that to change.
"This time I used it as an insult."
Generally speaking, you can’t reclaim a word while also hurling it at people you dislike. She admits her error.
"I crossed the line, I regret it and I do apologize for that."
For those who are puzzled as to why her description of Ivanka was controversial at all, Bee explains exactly why.
"The problem is that many women have heard that word at the worst moments of their lives."
This, folks, is how one describes a slur. For the LGBT+ community, there’s an f-slur and a t-slur, among others. For many black people around the globe, that word is the n-word.
Naturally, people against whom a slur would be used are generally allowed to use it, as it does not mean the same thing coming from them.
But not all women are eager to hear the c-word, in any context.
"A lot of them don’t want that word reclaimed, they want it gone. And I don’t blame them."
She would never want to be part of making any woman relive the suffering of her past, whether it’s from creepy catcallers on the street or from a toxic partner or family member.
"I don’t want to inflict more pain on them."
Don’t worry — even though this cold open was not really designed to entertain, she has some good lines.
"I want this show to be challenging and I want it to be honest, but I never intended it to hurt anyone."
Well …
"Except Ted Cruz."
Famously, Bee teamed up with Michelle Branch for "Goodbye Ted Cruz" after Cruz dropped out of the 2016 Presidential primaries, a spoof on Branch’s classic "Goodbye To You."
Bee also acknowledged that women weren’t the only ones who took issue with her use of language.
"Many men were also offended by my use of the word."
And …
"I do not care about that."
Samantha laments that the episode that aired and its many important topics were overshadowed by four simple letters.
"I hate that this distracted from more important issues."
Among other things, Full Frontal writer Ashley Nicole Black’s mother appeared during a segment of the episode that will probably never air again. That’s so unfair.
"I hate that I did something to contribute to the nightmare of 24-hour news cycles that we’re all white-knuckling through."
Every day is a… wait, she already said nightmare. Remember when checking Twitter was fun?
"I should have known that a potty-mouthed insult would be inherently more interesting to them than juvenile immigration policy."
Samantha talked even further about the issue of ICE separating children from their parents at the border, including asylum seekers who are abiding by the law.
"I would do anything to help those kids. I hate that this distracted from them. So, to them, I am also sorry."
You can really hear her adorable Canadian accent when she says soorry, there. But that’s not the point.
Before the (jokingly censored) opening music plays, Samantha Bee has just a few more words of advice.
"If you are worried about the death of civility, don’t sweat it."
Her job is not to be polite, particularly not to those who are in power.
"I’m a comedian. People who hone their voices in basement bars while yelling back at drunk hecklers are definitely not paragons of civility."
But she reiteratest hat she regrets using the c-word.
"I am really sorry that I said that word."
She shares another thought.
"But you know what? Civility is just nice words. Maybe we should all worry a little bit more about the niceness of our actions."
Those are wise words.