Chris Rock, Louis CK and Ricky Gervais spark outrage for using N-word in resurfaced 2011 clip

A 2011 clip featuring the comedians Chris Rock, Ricky Gervais, Louis CK and Jerry Seinfeld has gone viral for the wrong reasons.

The short video taken from the unscripted HBO show Funny Talk sees the quartet discuss their various comedy inspirations.

However, their conversation soon takes a turn for the ugly as after CK makes a joke about a black man getting rich.

The 51-year-old who was disgraced during the #MeToo movement, says:

When a black guy gets rich, it’s a countdown to when he’s poor again.

This prompts a response from Rock who says:

He’s the blackest white guy I f**king know.

Then CK replies to that by using the N-word:

You’re saying I’m a n****r.

Rock adds:

Yes, you are the n****r-est fucking white man I have ever met.

Gervais is immediately amused by this back and forth between Rock and CK, whereas Seinfeld appears very uncomfortable, adding that "I wouldn’t use it [the N-word] anywhere."

Gervais then tries to defend Rock and CK, who at that point had known each other for at least a decade as C.K had directed Rock's 2001 movie Pootie Tang, by saying that they are the only two comedians who could get away with using that word on stage, before using the word himself.

Seinfeld, who claims to have never used the word then comments:

You've found the humour of it. I haven't nor do I seek it.

The short clip resurfaced on Twitter over the weekend and has already been viewed over 10 million times, with many complimenting Seinfeld for his words.

Others felt that he didn't deserve too much praise as he did the bare minimum and isn't exactly innocent himself.

Meanwhile, Rock, Gervais and CK have been heavily criticised for gleefully engaging in this debate without addressing the historical connotations of the word.

HT Daily Dot