Sharpton: Wilmore's Use of N-Word With Obama 'Poor Taste'

Comedian Larry Wilmore's N-word bomb during President Barack Obama's final appearance at the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner was "at best, in poor taste," activist Al Sharpton charged.

Comedy Central's "The Nightly Report" host used the term at the close of his monologue at the yearly gathering of politicians, journalists, celebrities and dignitaries – triggering an immediate storm of comment, including condemnation by Mediaite columnist Joe Concha, and a Twitter jab from an ABC producer.

So we end the #WHCD by touting the historical implications of 1st black president... and we use the N-word. Not cool @larrywilmore

— Sarah Thomas (@Sarah_KLTV) May 1, 2016

"Many of us are against using the N-word period," Sharpton, the president of the National Action Network and an MSNBC host, told the Los Angeles Times.

"But to say that to the president of the United States in front of the top people in media was at best in poor taste."

Sharpton called Wilmore's performance "all right until he dropped the N-word."

"I think he was trying to in his own way to act like he was relating," Sharpton said. "But relating to who? Or what? I really didn't like it."

Wilmore's performance aired live on C-Span and all three cable news networks that televised the dinner.

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