Madonna Apologizes For Instagram Gaffe

UPDATE: So, Madonna has removed the "apology." In case you missed it, the post read: "

I am sorry if I offended anyone with my use of the N word on Instagram. It was not meant as a racial slur...I am not a racist. There's no way to defend the use of the word. It was all about intention. It was used as a term of endearment toward my son who is white. I appreciate that it's a provocative word and I apologize if it gave people the wrong impression. Forgive me."

Well into a long career, Madonna is still courting controversy. The pop star landed herself in hot water yesterday when she posted an Instagram photo of her son Rocco boxing, with a caption that read, "No one messes with Dirty Soap! Mama said knock you out! #disni--a."

Her use of the N-word immediately caused widespread outrage among her followers, with one incensed fan writing, "MADONNA U NEED TO TAKE UR arthritis medicine instead of trying to be hip on the internet." But, instead of apologizing, the singer took down the offending caption and replaced it with "Ok let me start this again #get off of my d-ck haters!"

Today, a far more contrite Madge posted an apology on Instagram, writing, "I am sorry if I offended anyone with my use of the N word on Instagram. It was not meant as a racial slur. I am not a racist." She went on to explain that the word was meant to be a term of endearment toward her son.

Invoking context has become a commonplace rationalization for what is still one of the most emotionally loaded words in the English language. While her apology was prompt and necessary, someone of her stature should have recognized that her use of it would have incited the negative reaction it did. If Madonna's intention was, in fact, to spark an open discussion on the word's many connotations, she probably could have done it in a far more constructive way. Both her initial use of the word, and her apology after the fact, are only the tip of the iceberg of a much larger discussion about whether or not context and intention really matter in a situation like this. What do you think?