Duane "Dog" Chapman and his show in trouble after racial remarks

Duane "Dog" Chapman's TV Show "Dog the Bounty Hunter" has been suspended following racial comments.

Duane "Dog" Chapman and his show in trouble after racial remarks The A&E television network has suspended the production of the reality TV show "Dog the Bounty Hunter", after the star of the show Duane "Dog" Chapman was busted by the National Enquirer making racial comments. The magazine posted a recording of a phone conversation between Dog Chapman and his son, in which the bounty hunter is using derogatory racial words to describe his son's girlfriend Monique Shinnery, who is an African American. During the recorded conversation, Dog Chapman also tells his son t break up with Monique or be fired from the bail bond business and expresses concern that she will try to set him up because of the derogatory language he uses: "I'm not going to take a chance ever in life losing everything I've worked for for 30 years cause some f**kin n----- heard us say n-----". It turns out that he did get set up, but the Enquirer did not say how they got the tape. Pending investigation, A&E has indefinitely suspended the production of "Dog the Bounty Hunter", which is filmed in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Duane Chapman released the following statement, apologizing for his language: "My sincerest, heartfelt apologies go out to every person I have offended for my regrettable use of very inappropriate language. I am deeply disappointed in myself for speaking out of anger to my son and using such a hateful term in a private phone conversation. It was completely taken out of context. I was disappointed in his choice of a friend, not due to her race, but her character. However, I should have never used that term. I have the utmost respect and aloha for black people, who have already 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 the world. I am ashamed of myself and I pledge to do whatever I can to repair this damage I have caused." Some reports claim that Chapman has contacted Rev. Al Sharpton to talk about the comments he made on the tape.

Duane "Dog" Chapman became extremely popular with his hunt and capture of Max Factor cosmetics heir Andrew Luster in Mexico in 2003 and the Mexican police charged him, his son and his brother with with felony restraint. In August of 2007 Mexico dismissed all criminal charges pending against Dog, Tim and Leland Chapman on the grounds that the statute of limitations had expired. Duane "Dog" Chapman has also served two years in prison for a 1977 conviction on charges of first degree murder.

Published on 11/01/2007