AceShowbiz -

Don Lemon stirred controversy during a recent segment of "CNN Tonight". In an attempt to open discussion about the day's hot topics including President Obama's use of N-word on Marc Maron's podcast, he showed viewers a black banner featuring the offensive word in white letters.

Lemon first held up a Confederate flag in the wake of the tragic shooting at Charleston, S.C.'s Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. He said, "This is what America is talking about right now. Does this offend you? It's a Confederate flag. Is it a symbol of Southern pride or a symbol of hate?"

"And then, what about this?" the African-American presenter continued as he picked up the N-word poster. "Does this offend you? This word. President Obama said it out loud in an interview and a lot of people are shocked."

The journalist referred to the interview in which Mr. President said during a discussion about race, "Racism, We are not cured of it. And it's not just a matter of it not being polite to say n****r in public. That's not the measure or whether racism still exists or not."

Meanwhile, Lemon himself earlier in the day said journalists should be able to use N-word if it's "relevant" to a story. "If you're using it in context of a story, and it is relevant, you should be able to say it," so he explained.