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Fonda Swears She's Sorry for Obscenity

Today show apologizes for on-air slip, decency watchdogs want delay

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 15, 2008 6:37 AM CST

(Newser) – Today host Meredith Vieira got an unpleasant shock yesterday when Jane Fonda let the C-word slip while discussing the Vagina Monologues, the New York Daily News reports. "It was a slip, and obviously she apologizes, and so do we," Vieira told viewers. Fonda's blooper came when she was asked why she'd originally turned down a role in the play. She "was just quoting the title of her scene," her spokeswoman noted. "She meant no disrespect."

The Barbarella star was explaining that she initially turned down the role because of the crude language."I live in Georgia, okay? I was asked to do a monologue called 'C---.' I said, 'I don't think so. I've got enough problems," Fonda said on air, unaware, at first, that she had goofed. Sorry wasn't good enough for the Parents Television Council, though: the advocacy group says NBC should put a time delay on all its live programming to keep any future slip-ups off the airwaves.

[Images (4)]

[Videos (1)]

From left, actors Jane Fonda, Kerry Washington, playwright Eve Ensler and actors Glenn Close and Brooke Shields pose for pictures at the V-Day 10th Anniversary celebration, Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008, in... (Associated Press)

U.S. actress Jane Fonda looks on as she arrives for a press conference at the Rome Film festival, in Rome, Monday, Oct. 22, 2007. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) (Associated Press)

Jane Fonda attends a charity telethon in Berlin in this Dec. 15, 2007, file photo. (AP Photo/Miguel Villagran, file) (Associated Press)

Meredith Vieira, co-host of the NBC "Today" television program, apologized for Jane Fonda's accidental use of a four-letter word on the program when discussing her role in "The Vagina Monologues." (AP... (Associated Press)

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Fonda Swears She's Sorry for Obscenity