RHONY Star LuAnn de Lesseps Defends Using the Word "Indian"

On Season 5, Episode 10 of Real Housewives of New York, Carole Radziwill called co-star LuAnn de Lesseps out for her choice to use the word “Indian” when referencing Native Americans and Aboriginal Canadians. Carole said the phrase is outdated and offensive to a group that has “been discriminated against.”

LuAnn, however, is sticking to her guns that it isn’t an offensive term, instead suggesting that Carole was just jumping on the opportunity to bicker with her.

In her newest Bravo blog, LuAnn wrote, “Lately, Carole never seems to miss an opportunity to criticize me. Have you noticed that when I say 'tomato' she says 'tomahto'? She never seems to pass up an opportunity to put me down and I'm while I’m trying to be polite and friendly, I do have my limits.”

One of those limits, of course, is the whole controversy surrounding her vocabulary.

"Let the facts speak for themselves," she wrote. "The US Census Bureau surveyed people of various races and what they liked to be called and over 49 percent of American Indians preferred to be called American Indian while 37 percent said that Native American was their preference. Furthermore, the museums dedicated to American Indian heritage in Washington D.C. and New York City are both called the Museum of the American Indian. I think the Indian people have spoken and Carole doesn't seem to be listening."

What do you think? Is Carole right that LuAnn shouldn’t have used the term, or is LuAnn right that it’s not offensive and Carole’s just using the issue to pick a fight?

The Real Housewives of New York airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo.  

Source: Bravo

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