Lifestyle | racial slurs Fox: Jackson Used N-Word in Off-Air Obama Comments Jesse apologizes, again, to frontrunner By Rob Quinn Posted Jul 17, 2008 4:46 AM CDT Copied Barack Obama, right, listens as Rev. Jesse Jackson responds to a question after Obama addressed the Rainbow PUSH Coalition's annual conference breakfast in Rosemont, Ill., Monday, June 4, 2007. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) Red-faced civil rights leader Jesse Jackson has again had to apologize to the nation's first black presidential candidate, this time over his use of a racial slur in off-air comments during the taping of a FOX show, reports AP. Fox News confirmed that Jackson said Obama is "talking down to black people, telling n—s how to behave" after a transcript was leaked to TVNewser. Jackson had earlier apologized for his "hurtful words," but his use of a racial slur hadn't been reported. Jackson has spearheaded a campaign to convince rappers, actors, and other entertainers to stop using the epithet—and in fact once led a Seinfeld boycott to protest Michael Richards' infamous use of it. "I am deeply saddened and distressed by the pain and sorrow that I have caused as a result of my hurtful words," said Jackson in a statement. "I apologize again to Senator Barrack (sic) Obama, Michelle Obama, their children as well as to the American public. There really is no justification for my comments and I hope that the Obama family and the American public will forgive me." Read These Next New Fox star, 23, misses first day after car troubles. White House rolls with Trump's 'daddy' nickname. Man accused of killing his daughters might be dead. Supreme Court ruling is a big blow to Planned Parenthood. Report an error