Here's the Vine of white Aussies sitting on a TV panel openly discussing African American slurs.
There is some context... though it doesn't get much better.
The seven panelists on Channel 9's The Verdict were discussing whether it was offensive for Australian senator Eric Abetz to describe U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas as "a negro".
On the panel, independent senator Jacqui Lambie thought it was. As did host Karl Stefanovic. It was left to News Corp columnist Miranda Devine and former politician Mark Latham to speak up.
"The word 'negro' is not offensive. It's used by older black Americans. Martin Luther King used it in his 'I Have a Dream' speech," said Devine.
Stefanovic tried to remind Devine that maybe African-Americans using the word was different to a group of white Aussies. She disagreed.
Latham, who had previously resigned in disgrace from his last job for trolling women online, wanted to use history to justify using the term.
"Back in the '70s and '80s negro was a respected alternative to really racist terms like 'n----r' or 'darkie'. So I must have missed the memo...when negro became unacceptable," he said.
Fully aware of how the word would offend people, Latham then said, "I am happy to make my weekly donation to Australia's outrage industry by saying, 'Negro, negro, negro'."
Again Stefanovic tried to point to the Oxford Dictionary definition (which spells out that "negro" is an offensive word) but Latham disagreed and fellow panelist Sandy Rea gave him a spray, calling him "white trash".
The whole unedifying spectacle had everyone feeling sick.
White panel on the word 'negro' and political correctness...#TheVerdict ...
Most of the anger was directed to Latham's flagrant slurs.
White man defending his right to use the "polite" version of the N-word! Pathetic! #TheVerdict
With a new tool recommended for future episodes of the show.
#TheVerdict needs a little Racial Slur Counter in the corner of the screen
The show has been renewed for a second run after terrible reviews.
It's a free for all for racial slurs and epithets tonight on #TheVerdict. GO ON TV AND SAY WHATEVER YOU LIKE DAY.
Producers are no doubt hoping its mix of social media outrage and deliberate racism will make it a must watch with the public.
Someone else may have said this, but as a 1st time #TheVerdict viewer, I reckon Kerry Packer would've hauled it off air if he were alive