Conservative journalist Rich Lowry is denying accusations that he almost used a racial slur when referring to Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio during an interview with Megyn Kelly. The incident occurred during a discussion about baseless claims spread by former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, that Haitian immigrants in Springfield were eating neighbors’ pets. Vance had admitted to fabricating stories to attract media attention, and Lowry compared the situation to “alternative facts,” a term famously used by Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway. Lowry seemed unfazed by the made-up story and even found amusement in journalists attempting to verify it.
During the interview, many people on social media perceived Lowry as nearly using the N-word before correcting himself. While some were convinced that Lowry had started to say the racial slur, he received support from Fox News and National Review contributor Andy McCarthy. McCarthy defended Lowry, explaining that he had confused the terms “immigrants” and “migrants,” causing a mispronunciation that was quickly corrected. Lowry himself confirmed McCarthy’s explanation, stating that he began to mispronounce “migrants” but caught himself halfway through. Despite the defense from McCarthy and confirmation from Lowry, there were still skeptics who were not convinced by the explanation provided.
Megyn Kelly also weighed in on the situation, condemning the accusations against Lowry as “disgusting” and insinuating they were made by someone who does not know him personally. Lowry did not respond to a request for comment from HuffPost, but he acknowledged McCarthy’s defense on social media. Kelly’s defense of Lowry did not sway the skeptics, as some believed that Lowry’s response to the incident indicated a guilty conscience. One Twitter user called on Lowry to apologize if he had indeed made a mistake, rather than going into defense mode.
The controversy surrounding Lowry’s alleged slip of the tongue during the interview with Megyn Kelly highlights the sensitivity around racial language and the potential consequences of using such language in a public forum. While some defended Lowry’s explanation that it was a simple mispronunciation, others remained unconvinced and called for a more direct acknowledgment and apology if a mistake had been made. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of thoughtful and intentional communication, particularly when discussing sensitive and inflammatory topics such as race and immigration.
