Gina Rodriguez apologizes for singing N-word lyric

NEW YORK (AP) — Gina Rodriguez has apologized for singing along on her Instagram story to a Fugees verse that includes the N word.

The “Jane the Virgin” actress deleted the short video she posted Tuesday and replaced it with her apology, but not before memes and other backlash ensued on social media. Rodriguez said in her apology she’s a longtime Fugees and Lauryn Hill fan, and didn’t mean to offend anyone.

She sang along to “Ready or Not” and recited the racial slur as she sat in a makeup chair.

Some of the outrage focused on remarks Rodriguez made last year during a panel discussion. She said black women in Hollywood are paid more than Latina women. Detractors at the time noted the highest paid TV actress in the world that year was Sofia Vergara, from Colombia.

Rodriguez also sparked criticism after she tried to generalize the impact of her “Smallfoot” co-star Yara Shahidi. An interviewer had asked Shahidi how she felt about being a role model to many young black women, to which Rodriguez interjected, “So many women.

CNN contributed to this report.

More Videos

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up