Rae Dawn’s Racial Slur Against Oprah Winfrey: Tommy Chong Defends Daughter’s Use Of N-Word

Comedian Tommy Chong -- well-known for his "Cheech & Chong" comedy movies -- has spoken out to defend his daughter, Rae Dawn, who was recently embroiled in a controversy for using racial slurs against talk show host, Oprah Winfrey.

Dawn, who acted with Oprah in the movie “The Color Purple,” said during a radio interview on June 27 that, "if you look at the way she looks – 60 years ago she would have been a housekeeper, luckily. She would not have been a house n----r, she would've been a field n----r."

But, on Thursday, Chong told TMZ that his daughter was merely being honest in describing the situation back when slavery was prevalent. "If you think of what [Rae] said, she said back in the day Oprah would be working in the field because shes not that beautiful ... whereas if you're beautiful, you're part of the master's bedroom," Chong told TMZ.

"Knowing Oprah, she would probably read [Rae's comments] and just chuckle and probably agree with Rae Dawn ... she probably would be working in the field," said Chong, but added that he does not think Winfrey would have been stuck in the fields for long.

According to the Canadian-American singer and actor, Winfrey would have used her "charm and intelligence" to become a "house lady."

In an interview with Matty P's Radio Happy Hour, last month, Dawn spoke harshly about Winfrey, repeatedly calling her former co-star ugly, fat and even a brown-noser. Following backlash, the “Commando” actress issued an apology of sorts to Winfrey stating that her remarks were taken out of context.

"In context, I was actually complimenting Oprah," Dawn said in a video statement to TMZ. "Do I have issues with Oprah? Yes. Am I perfect? No. Do I take back everything I said? No. Am in pain that it's caused pain to me, to her? Yes."