Gayle King's Use of Uncensored Slur on Live TV Sparks Divided Reactions

During a CBS Mornings interview, King quoted a joke by comedian Matteo Lane, prompting CBS to remove the uncensored clip as public debate continues.

Gayle King quoted an uncensored gay slur during a live CBS Mornings interview with comedian Matteo Lane while retelling one of his jokes.
Matteo Lane, who is openly gay, laughed at the moment and expressed affection for King, showing no signs of offense during the broadcast.
CBS removed the uncensored clip from its platforms, including YouTube and later airings, reflecting the network's sensitivity to potential backlash.
Online reactions remain divided, with some praising King’s boldness as iconic, while others criticized the use of the slur as inappropriate for live television.
As of April 5, 2025, Gayle King has not issued an apology or public comment, while Matteo Lane shared a censored version of the interview on Instagram.