"CNN Tonight" anchor Don Lemon has been at the height of news lately with a controversial live broadcast that shows the journalist asking “Does this offend you?” while he holds up a confederate flag and a sign with the word "nigger" plastered boldy across it. 

“This is what America is talking about right now,” Lemon said while holding up the red, white and blue flag. Does this offend you? It’s a confederate flag. Is it a symbol of Southern pride or a symbol of hate? And what about this?” Lemon asked viewers while he held up the sign. “Does this offend you?"

“This word. President Obama said it out loud in an interview and a lot of people were shocked. A word and a flag," Lemon stated.

Lemon gave an explanation about the context in which the word was used.

"I think actually using the word — calling someone the word, obviously, and using it in context to provoke conversation or to have a meaningful conversation — those are two different things," Lemon said according to E! Online. "So when you read a headline that says, the president uses the N-word, he didn't really use the N-word, he discussed how people use that word. And I think it's about time he said it. I've always advocated the use of that word in context, especially if you're reporting on it in journalism. It's important for people to hear it when it has impact on a society."