Sophie Turner – aka Sansa Stark – is currently dating Joe Jonas, the human embodiment of a sad clown noise. No, I jest! Joe Jonas isn’t that bad. Nick Jonas would have been a better choice, but maybe that’s just me. So, Sophie and Joe are loved up and spending a lot of time together. They apparently even go to the gym together, which is where someone – “fitness guru Brendan Fallis” – posted an Instagram Story of Sophie and Joe basically saying “hi!” Except that Sophie didn’t say “hi there.” No one is quite sure what she said, because it sounds like she said “what up, ni–a.” The original Instagram has already been deleted, but thankfully some people copied it:
Yeah, even though Fitness Guru was laughing and you can’t make out what Sophie says after “what up,” it really does sound like she said some variation on the n-word. Which is bad. Sophie has issued a statement about the video though.
“I used the word ‘motherf–kers’ in a recent video posted in an Instagram story and not a hateful racial slur that has been suggested. I am incredibly upset that anyone would think otherwise, and I want to make it clear that I would never use such an abhorrent word.”
Go and watch the video again and really think to yourself, “She’s saying ‘motherf–ker.’” Or maybe “motherf–kas.” Okay… maybe. MAYBE. But it still feels like a stretch because it sounds so much like the n-word. Then again, maybe it’s a stretch to say that a young, white British woman who has mostly lived and worked in Britain most of her life would use the n-word so casually? Like, I could see an entitled and dumb American actress doing that. But a British actress? I don’t know. Does Sophie deserve the benefit of the doubt here, or do you still clearly hear her use the n-word?
Photos courtesy of PR Photos and Pacific Coast News.
She clearly says “motherf*cka”
+1
Yup. This is a tempest in a teapot.
Ditto, I can hear MF. You can clearly hear there are 3-4 syllabus, not 2.
Yes, I hear that too.
She said mutherf*ckers for sure. I didn’t hear the n word.. Not even a little
Very clearly.
Agree.
I also agree.
Agreed
I agree with Yanni. Extra syllable in there.
I concur…clearly.
first time i heard it I was sure she used the N word, but I have listened now several time and i could see how she fitted in ‘motherf….’. I guess we will never know.
She clearly says MF. For one thing it’s obviously four syllables rather than two syllables.
I don’t think a white British girl would use that word because it’s not part of our culture and imo it’s considered much more shocking and unacceptable here. Not that there aren’t racists here who probably do use it but casual use is not something you really see.
It must be an accent/diction thing because I can’t believe anyone even thought she said the N word.
You and Kaiser are right: it’s not a term that would get used in an oblivious trying-to-be-cool way here anyway. Mind you, we don’t say muddyfunster that much either, do we?
You’d be surprised Sixer-I don’t know if it’s a trend at boarding schools these past few years, but a lot of posh kids (mostly guys) at my uni were dropping it fairly casually. And seemed to see no issue using it around me when I was often the only black person in the room. Good times!
Urgh. Sigh. WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH THE POSH YOUTH? Wastemen, the lot of them.
(See what I did there? ;))
She is posh KJA. So seems likely she’d do this
As someone who had lived extensively in the U.K. and the US, it is used much much much more frequently in the U.K. in a joking manner amongst young people.
I can’t speak for the entirety of Britain, obviously, but none of the kids I know here in the West Country would dream of saying it, nor would any of the young people from my family and friends in London. We’re not idiotic and oblivious poshies, however.
Regardless. It’s as clear as day is day she said muddyfunster.
Hahah, well played Sixer! I went to the kind of state school Waterloo Road (great show back in the day) would get their storylines from so my mostly white middle class uni was a culture shock. Posh people are very confusing to me-trying their best to act and dress not posh while dropping casual references to their dads yacht.
In terms of Sophie-I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt this time. Sounded like her saying muthaf**** to me.
I went to a public school in Dorset and never heard the word. My friend went to a state school in the same area and heard it occassionally. It’s not always ‘the poshies’ using it.
Oh, man. Waterloo Road! The Major was addicted to that when he was a wee one.
Oh! KJA! I keep meaning to tell you about a book about grime out soon (next month, I think). I think you’d like it. Hold Tight by Jeffrey Boakye.
(I think Sophie is certainly clueless enough to say it, just that she didn’t say it this particular time!)
I’m born and raised in London and very rarely hear the word being used. When I do here it occasionally it’s usually among young people in a joking manner (not that that makes it acceptable). The first time I went to NYC my jaw kept dropping at the number of times I heard the word being used! It probably wasn’t actually that much but it was jarring to my British ears!
I’m born and bred black British Londoner and have heard that disgusting word frequently. From the working class to the poshest white people.
@Kat thank you. idk whether to laugh or what at these comments from brits saying the n word isn’t common in britain. right, sure jan.
I think it would be more likely for a foreigner ( especially if english isn’t their first language) to use it. Maybe not in Britain, but a lot of people in my country have no idea of the conotation behind it. They hear it in songs and think it’s just a word.
Then again, she’s British, an actress AND a native english speaker. She should have known better.
I’m French and I’ve heard A LOT of young French dudes (20 years old) use the n word in a jokey manner. Like “hey my n…a!” while greeting a friend. It’s gross. They think it makes them look cool because those idiots listen to rap music and well, the n word is in there constantly. Notice that all those guys are always white. I don’t think they have any idea how offensive it is but I mean this is 2017, there’s the internet, people can no longer claim ignorance.
Yes, I’ve thinking about this a lot lately. When you are foreign you listen music and see black ppl using the word, so its confusing at first to know its such a terrible term and what it means.
In all honesty I didn’t knew the connotations of the n-word until I was about 17 (I’m from Latin America), and I founded it quit common bc I was hearing a lot of rap and hip-hop in my teens. When I realized what I was singing I was kinda horrified that black ppl would call themselves that, I’ve come a long way since and learned a lot on the subject. Also there has been so much information abt the issue in the last 10 years, so there’s no excuses now.
But yeah, I can see how this might be tricky for foreigners.
I hear MF very clearly. I’m baffled anyone would accuse her of saying the n word from this video. It doesn’t even sound close. I feel so bad for her.
Ditto. To me she’s very clearly saying MF.
Is it an accent thing, or the way she drags out the last syllable? Because I can’t really see how anyone’s hearing the n-word here.
I think it’s a group think type of situation when it comes to social media….the idea is already subconsciously in your head so you are more likely to think that is what she said in the video. I have to admit I initially thought she said it too, but then I thought I should listen to it again and it’s clearly motherf*cker. It sounds like she is pronouncing fucker as fugcker (hence the g sound) but there is clearly a mother (pronounced mudda) part in front of it.
Sometimes social media is a bit overeager for controversy and cooks up (false) drama.
This so much. I think when you keep hearing she said that word, you almost already believe that’s what she said no matter what because that thought is stuck in there, but after listening to it several times I hear MF. It doesn’t always happen, but in this case, she is telling the truth!
I agree, it’s a bit like the backmasking controversy. Somebody hears a thing that isn’t there and creates an uproar and others then hear it too, eventhough it’s just noise. Or in this case, an innocent swearword on a messy recording.
Exactly. And it’s so easy to take someone down, ruin their reputation, sometimes for something so obviously false, as in this case.
I saw the slowed down version and it really sounds more like she’s drawing out motherf*cker in a strange, goofy type of voice. It almost sounds like she is saying mother pause fugger. The first time I heard it I was like “Sophie’s cancelled” but when I listened to it again it definitely sounded different…and the slowed down video cleared it up.
Apparently Miss Sansa is a bit problematic, but it’s a giant leap from being a bit problematic to having a friend openly post a video with a celeb using racial slurs. Bigots are dumb AF but I have hard time buying that her friend would openly post that IG if she was using a slur….especially because she’s famous.
I don’t hear the n word at all.
This whole “controversy” is ridiculous. It doesn’t sound even remotely like the n word. I heard what everyone else heard. MF. Why even write about this in that “did she or didn’t she” way? She didn’t. No story! Drop it.
I have once ignorantly used the ‘n’-word in public and I have been forever mortified since. It’s really one of the most shameful moments of my life. I can only say that I inadvertently slipped it because I’m far too used to saying it in my car, listening to hip hop/rap music, which I love with a passion, like any other part of black culture. In Australia, it’s occasionally used as slang amongst the youth because we want to emulate ‘coolness’, so I think if anything Sophie, if she used that word, used it in that way, without meaning direct harm. I hope she has realised how incorrect and disrespectful it is, like I had, from this controversy.
I’m so confused…I heard the n word but no one else here does?
I heard the n word at first, but after listening a few times, I think she said m-f**ker.
I hear it too.
I hear it too.
I thought I did too. But then i replayed, and i think she is saying MF
same. i don’t understand how can people say she says mf ‘clearly’. to me it’s not clear at all, like i’m not necessarily disputing she might say mf in a funnily enunciated way, but it’s certainly not said ‘clearly’, and it does sound like the n word.
I listened to it 4 times… I’m hearing “whats up my n____s”.
Honestly, it could go either way so easily. If she’s saying Mfers, it’s in a REALLY strange way.
I heard the n word too.
White British people are never racist. Just ask them!
Ha!
LOL exactly. Read Kat’s comment up-thread if you want a black Brit perspective.
Well she did call someone calling her “lipless white” a racist so she clearly does not understand it.
What doesn’t she understand?
Apparently, she doesn’t understand that white people cannot be victims of racism because we are the oppressor.
Would you have minded if she’d used the word prejudiced instead? Calling someone a lipless White is a unpleasant thing regardless.
She doesn’t understand the rules of the word game surrounding the use of racist versus prejudiced/biased etc. based on who is spewing out color-based insults to whom. It’s clearly a racist comment and should be called out as such – non-institutionized racism is still racism.
Yeah, you right she did that. I have no idee if she’s saying the n Word or not, what I do know is that she’s clueless privilege idiot.
she’s not very clever, if you listen to any of her interviews she’s very sheltered and not at all bright.
i know she’s young, but so many other actresses her age sound miles better than she does.
That is an absolutely horrible thing to say to her, very prejudiced. Why must we always resort to insults based on appearances?
Every person can be racist.
People need to stop documenting and posting all casual interactions on social media
We create unnecessary uproar over everything on social media
Private conversations need to stay private
Someday Sophie might support a BLM cause or anti racial profiling cause and some detractors will use this extreme casual private conversation ( if it indeed happened) to question her honesty and support and those of us in need of the support of a celebrity voice will suffer
If true, I prefer silence over a fake celebrity endorsement over causes that matter. For the record I didn’t hear the n word, but if I had then hell yes, cue the outrage.
She’s posh. She was trying to be more common with her accent but she clearly said motherfuckaaas.
Sort of unrelated…..
I went to a friend’s birthday party recently–she’d just turned 21. Besides me, there was only one other black person there. The rest are white. And all of them just started casually dropping the n-word and calling each other that. I didn’t even know what to say. My friend had never spoken like that to me or in front of me like that………….and I almost thought I was hearing things.
And then later, when I asked her about it, she’s like *insert name of other black person there* didn’t care and “that’s how we talk”. They are all pasty white. And given that her sister and her girlfriend have gotten a lot of grief from their father about their gay relationship for years and years, you’d think they would be more sensitive to other minorities.
I had to consider a very polite way of telling her that that was unacceptable, and it says it all that I even had to say that.
People are so ignorant, careless, insensitive.
Wth? Forget those peoole, they are idiots. Wh.ite people talking like that sound like fools. Like my husband says, everyone wants to be black, but they don’t want to be black. They want to take what they think are “cool,” but I’m sure they don’t want the racism that comes along with it. My husband is mixed, i am white. Those people, imo, are racists. Because if you really called them out on it, they would prob say, well, how come blacks can use it, but i can’t? Boo hoo, you can’t ise the n word, life is so rough. *rolling eyes.* on another point, if I’m around my husband and family, sometimes they will use cuz and the n***a. I will say what up, cuz? What are the guidelines for a white person on a mixed relationship? As in, what slang can i use and what should i avoid? I don’t want to inadvertently offend someone.
My advice to white people is to not use it. Even if someone black says that they’re cool with it, don’t do it. It’s a racial slur. You can’t change a racial slur into something endearing. And if that’s too hard to follow, think about it this way, would YOU want someone calling YOU a racial slur?
You’ve told this story too many times…
She doesn’t seem to be very bright and it wouldn’t suprise me if she were quite ignorant. With that being sad, the video’s no proof of that… even I could make out the “motherf—” and I’m not even a native speaker.
I find it funny that if she said mother effer, she gets a pass. Classy chick. Nice outfit Joe.
Why would she not ‘get a pass’ if she said MF? Are we meant to be outraged every time someone swears?
she doesn’t NEED a pass to say MF. Unless we’re of the pearl clutching type who thinks it’s awful if people swear.
Someone slowed down the clip:
https://twitter.com/Neonyfy/status/861958049610838016
It’s clear she’s saying “muthaf—”
There is no way she said mothaeffer. No. Way. That is the n word. I don’t think the fact that she’s british has anything to do with it. I think it’s the fact a she’s a insular white chick with money and probably surrounds herself with people who don’t see a problem with speaking that way.
There is no way she said mothaeffer. No. Way. That is the n word. I don’t think the fact that she’s british has anything to do with it. I think it’s the fact a she’s a insular white chick with money and probably surrounds herself with people who don’t see a problem with speaking that way.
Edit: I listened to it again and I guess her accent threw me. Maybe she did say mothaeffer…. still just say hi girl!
Watch her mouth, she says four syllables.
I think you were right the first time. It sounds to me like ‘MY n-word’. I don’t hear an ‘f’ anywhere in it. Sorry.Maybe she didn’t think it would get posted and she was trying to sound cool? But using a racial slur is never cool.
I’ve listened to it a good 70 times. And 70 times it sounds like “what’s up my n—-“. Apologize for her all you’d like. If I had a dollar for every entitled snowflake who just listened to a rap song and thought they were “down”, I wouldn’t have to work a 9-5.
You listened to it 70 times?
Agree with you Kay. That’s what I hear each time. When I listened to the slowed down version posted above I *guess* I can be persuaded that she said MFers. Not looking to stone the girl, but I’m glad this brought up some conversation about inappropriate white privilege language.
She’s blatantly saying ‘wasssup muthafugger’. I’m British, it’s not even a question to me that’s what she’s saying. She’d be highly highly unlikely to be saying ‘my n–‘, it’s not at all a common thing to say here (thank goodness), but I’d say if I thought she was. Yeah she’s putting on a stupid, ‘down with the kids’ inflection on motherfucker, which is also an Americanism, but that’s what she’s saying. I’d call out anyone using racist language, but she’s not.
Riiiggght, because Brits are never knowingly/unknowingly racist. It just doesn’t happen, no sir.
i’m british too, but sophie lives in LA, so to imply she wouldn’t use the n word because she’s british is ridiculous. you adopt the slang of the places you live in, especially when you’re that young. also the n word is unfortunately universal, and in britain as well.
Perhaps you should observe her lips move as she says it, too. That helps in deciphering what you want her to say versus what she ACTUALLY says.
Apologies, I didn’t mean to imply Brits can’t be racist, clearly that’s not the case. I meant it’s not a common phrase here – racists would certainly would and do use the n word and that’s appalling and common. But the addition of ‘my’ makes it sound like a non-Brit colloquialism. ‘My n–‘ in that ‘what up dawg’ kind of slang way is an American phrase. Londoners etc more likely to use ‘fam’, ‘blud’ ‘bredren’ etc. However, I appreciate ell’s point that she lives in LA now, I hadn’t really considered that.
All that said, I’m still not hearing it AT ALL. I’m positive she’s saying ‘motherfucker’. She sounds dim, but I don’t think she’s using a slur. Sorry again if I sounded like I was in my ivory tower happily denying the existence of racism!
this is like the dress thing.
white, or blue?
I hear
“wassup, my n**ggas”
she tried.
This is exactly like the dress because I hear “muthaf*ckaaaa” and I don’t understand how anyone can hear anything different.
Before she even made her statement, I didn’t hear the N-word. Personally, I think some folks didn’t even bother to play the video and just went with the “she said the N-word!” She clearly says mothafucka…but with a g sound. But people are always looking for something to be outraged about. What else is new.
She clearly says motherf*cker…stop sensationalizing this crap for views.
I don’t hear MF. It sounds like she says what up n—-aaaa. I actually don’t care whether she says it or not, because it’s a little exhausting policing people on the word when it’s a very regular part of your black American experience. It’s so funny how people kept trying to tell us that these things were over and we just play the race card, then Obama and social media blew up, the rise of the alt right, and a racist fascist president proved otherwise. Outside of this, white people will always use the word, a lot and it’s a little oblivious to pretend otherwise. I have heard it all from the hard -ER to -A ending coming out of their mouths and I’m from the most liberal city in America, SF.
I live in the bay area and I NEVER hear people use this word. Maybe one time by a racist Obama hater and I found it foul and inexcusable. I once said the name of the rap group NWA (n word with attitude) out loud and the people who heard me looked at me like I killed Bambi. People with any social conscience do not use that word. And Sophie did not.
Well, your experience can’t be disputed so if that’s your experience then I surely can’t dispute yours. I will say that clearly my experience as a black person would be different. My parents work in public service, so they deal with the diverse public daily and have been called the word in SF many, many times. Also the term “black b” toward my mom. I’ve been called the N word 3 times…once from a moving vehicle as my friends and I walked down the street, once visiting another h.s. for a basketball game, and another time at a park.
I couldn’t reply to your response for some reason. I am sure my experience is different being white and living in Marin which is not socially or racially diverse. I was surprised to see the overt racism after Trump was elected. I guess I am out of touch and if I were black I would have a different reality. Sad and pathetic that people are that disrespectful.
She’s soo annoying!
she really is. she ruined sansa too, with her crappy acting.
It sounded like she said “ni**a” to me, but it might be an accent thing.
Regardless, if she is lying, she knows not to say that word publicly anymore.
one day she’s gonna look back at her joe jonas’ phase and feel so embarrassed. he’s also probably gonna go around telling what they did, like with ashley greene.
She very clearly says motherf. 4 syllables.
I’m British and PoC and yes Britain can be very racist, but I’ve never heard the N word used “casually” by white Brits the way it is in America. I’ve def heard the word but only as an intentional racist attack. Not as “matey slang” which is the context people are alleging it’s being used here. Perhaps it’s a null point since she didn’t say it.
That’s what I was trying (obviously badly) to explain above. And then felt really bad because it obviously sounded like I was denying Brits were ever racist. I meant the ‘my n–” thing is not a Brit thing to say.
Like I said above, I have honestly never heard it used by white people in the mate, bruv, fam sense here in the UK. But I hear white people say fam or blud or bruv all the time. Used as a slur by arseholes? Sure. But not in that way.
That said, KJA and ell and others are also British and I absolutely believe them when say they hear it often. Sigh. It just makes me despair when I find things are worse than I think they are. Happening too often these days.
I do think this one is tone deaf enough to say it. But listening to the audio, it’s muddyfunster as clear as a bell to me.
I can’t understand what she is saying. I give her a pass, mostly because she doesn’t seem like an asshole to me.
We have been involved with the au pair program for several years, and our last two au pairs, young women from Germany and France, both occasionally used the n word jokingly. We were shocked and explained the history of the word in America and asked them to never, ever use it in while they were living here. They are polite, lovely girls so they listened to us, but both (who are liberal, intelligent, aware people overall) were surprised that it was such a “big deal,” and mentioned that in Europe it’s used lightly as a, in their eyes, not harmful, joking way. Perhaps Sophie is the same. It was an eye-opening experience for me.
No because Britain has a completely different culture from France or Germany. That word is toxic waste here. Yes, racists use it. But it’s not a word people use in innocent ignorance.
Besides it’s a null point since she obviously didn’t say it.
That’s good to know. Makes sense. I have no idea what she actually said.
Yes, in English-speaking European countries like the UK and Ireland, socially conscious people do not use the ‘n’ word. We do have a much more casual relationship with the ‘C’ word and it doesn’t cause the outrage that it causes in America (the ‘c’ word is considered vulgar but it can be used affectionately with your friends).
Where English is not the first language, maybe the ‘n’ word doesn’t seem quite as loaded.
She’s def saying mutha*uckaaaa – like the way Ken Jeong says it in The Hangover.
She said ” Muthafugga”
Not the N word.
And I am from Canada but I have experience racism mainly from blacks while vacationing in the USA.
To say that only white people are ‘racist’ is not true.
Yes, other races may and can have racist attitudes. But white people dont experience systematic racism. Having someone call you a “cracker” for instance is not the same as being followed around every store you go in because black = poor ghetto trash who will obviously steal. Its not the same as having cops pull you over for no reason. Etc.
Personal racism also exists. It doesn’t just mean systemic stuff, I believe.
I have zero clue who this person is, and therefore no opinion. But I’m giving benefit of the doubt. It sounded like motherf***er to me.
I wouldnt necessarily been surprised if she did use it though. Its definitely a young generation thing. I stopped going on tumblr awhile ago, but it wouldnt be uncommon to see people respond to text posts with “n**** please” and stuff like that.
I don’t think she used N-word but she’s coming across really dumb nowadays. It’s kinda funny how girls like her, Elizabeth Olsen, etc come across really poised and intelligent when they first start off and then start showing their actual level of intelligence *sigh* her PR team needs to have a word with her before its too late
My partner is from New Zealand and the Maori in New Zealand call each other the N word all the time which I found so word! It’s like they identify with the black american experience and use the slang. I’ve also heard a lot of young hispanic male teens saying the word. I think the fact that the word is used in so much of popular american culture has diluted its history to a lot of people who are not american or directly aware of the history. I personally have never said the word because i dont like terms like that in general ie fag bitch any kind of slur that people try to make ‘happen’ but i do say retarded as in ‘im so retarded’ even though that would be considered terrible to a lot of people. I also say c— a lot and dont find it rude at all. It’s interesting how popular culture and multiculturalism are changing our relationships to these words.