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'Dog' Chapman Apologizes To Blacks About Racial Slur

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 2, 2007

Television bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman has apologized for repeatedly using a racial slur in a profanity-laced tirade during a private phone conversation with his son that was recorded and posted online.

Chapman, star of A&E's hit reality series "Dog the Bounty Hunter," issued a statement Wednesday apologizing for the comments after The National Enquirer posted a clip of the conversation in which he uses the "n word" in reference to his son's girlfriend.

"We take this matter very seriously," A&E spokesman Michael Feeney said in a statement Thursday. "Pending an investigation, we have suspended production on the series."

The recording was first posted online by the Enquirer. It was unclear who recorded the conversation or how the tabloid obtained the 1 1/2 -minute clip in which Chapman uses the "n word" six times.

In the conversation, Chapman urges his son, Tucker, to break up with his girlfriend. He also expresses concern about the girlfriend going public about the TV star's use of the "n word."

In the clip, Chapman also stated he doesn't care that his son's girlfriend is black.

In a statement, Chapman, 54, said he has "utmost respect and aloha for black people who have suffered so much due to racial discrimination and acts of hatred.

"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," he said. "I am ashamed of myself and I pledge to do whatever I can to repair this damage I have caused."

Cruise Juggles Several Hats

Tom Cruise doesn't sleep much.

Between being husband to Katie Holmes, father to 18-month-old Suri (as well as 12-year-old Connor and 14-year-old Isabella), a major movie star and co-owner of United Artists, there just isn't much time.

"Just like everybody else, you just work it out," Cruise tells "Entertainment Tonight" in an interview that aired Thursday. "We've gotten pretty good at organizing everything. I don't sleep much anyway."

Married life is "all very good, all very lovely," he says, adding that he feels "lucky" to have Holmes as his wife.

"I have a lot of respect for her as an artist, as a woman," he says. "She's a very strong, gracious woman. She's very funny, a great comedian."

Police Put Da Brat On Timeout

Da Brat was arrested early Thursday after a dispute with a waitress at a nightclub northeast of Atlanta.

The 33-year-old rapper, whose real name is Shawntae Harris, was charged with aggravated assault, said DeKalb County police spokeswoman Mekka Parish.

Officers answered a call to Studio 72 at 1:20 a.m. about a "brief pushing sort of thing," Parish said.

Police couldn't say whether the nightclub is the one that Jermaine Dupri opened this year, but the street address is the same. Club owners couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

Parish said the police report indicates Harris and a 24-year-old waitress at the club got into a squabble after the waitress bumped into her. At some point, the waitress walked away and moments later was hit in the face with a bottle of rum.

Parish said the waitress, who sustained a deep laceration to the cheek and swelling on her forehead, was driven to a hospital by a friend.

Today's Birthdays

Commentator Patrick J. Buchanan is 69. Singer-songwriter k.d. lang is 46. Actor Panchito Gomez is 44. Actor David Schwimmer is 41. Rapper Nelly is 33. Rapper Prodigy (Mobb Deep) is 33.

Source: The Associated Press

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