At the Monday’s White House press briefing, Press Secretary Josh Earnest said President Obama “appreciated” Larry Wilmore’s use of the n-word during Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
“This is a tough assignment,” Earnest said of Wilmore’s speech. “[President Obama] appreciated the spirit of Mr. Wilmore’s expression Saturday night.”
“I’m confident that Mr. Wilmore used the word by design,” he added. “He was seeking to be provocative.”
“Any reading of his comments made clear that he was not using the president as a butt of a joke.”
While the president might be ok with the “Nightly Show” host’s joke, it certainly ruffled other people’s feathers.
Both Al Sharpton and actor Ernie Hudson have criticized Wilmore’s choice of words since Saturday’s gala. (RELATED: This Black ‘Ghostbusters’ Star Says He’s Not Cool With Wilmore Calling Obama The N-Word)