The word that J. Fonda used is considered to be the most profane word in America. Also, consider the source, Fonda is still reviled by many Americans for her trip to Hanoi in 1972 and the perception that she sided with the enemy during a time of war. If, for example, professional bigmouth Oprah Winfrey had used the word, there would be much less notice taken.

William J. Blythe, Hollywood, California, USA

It's always refreshing to see the puritanical walls of American prudence take a good little cracking from anyone - but delightful Jane makes it all the more delicious. Every little bit helps.

R. Wright, Atlanta, GA. USA

Americans have a lovely custom -- the British once had it too -- of showing courtesy to others by avoiding rude words in public. Before jetissoning that custom, people ought to have the imagination to consider whether something valuable may be lost in debunking polite speech.

John Talbot, London,

If people get used to Filthy Language, Pornography and Perversion they will use it more. Hence; Civilization and decent communication is polluted and so are our minds. Profanity in a Public Social Setting (TV!) is NOT needed. If you have to swear it means you cannot convey your thoughts succintly in a civil manor or find a more refined word to use----You are a Heathen in other words and NOT civilized! Look at the World and ----Go Figure!

Theron Helton, Illinois, USA

fonda is fabulous. who cares what this terrific lady says...so long as shes out there. lets hope we see her at the oscars as a presenter...JANE ROCKS!!!!!!!

m swann, christchurch, new zealand

Americans are so immature when it comes to this kind of thing. I just heard that my favorite Brit show, Torchwood is filmed in two verisons; one more "adult" one for the UK and one for the less mature Americans.

We in the US need to grow up.

Minerva, Potland, Oregon

it should be noted that US broadcast standards apply only to channels actually beamed out over the air and receivable by antenna -- subscriber channels like HBO don't need to follow them. so no, the sopranos is not subject to censorship in the country where it's made.

jeremy, los angeles,

If the C word is to be banned from TV, then how on earth will Tony Soprano and his mates be able to have a meaningful conversation. Here in the U.K. nothing is bleeped out of The Sopranos. If the C word is bleeped out of the programme when it is shown Stateside, then there must be more bleeping going on than actual dialogue!

It is all about context. There is nothing wrong with hearing the word in the context of gangsters talking to each other, or indeed in the context of Jane Fonda talking about a play which has that word as one of its scene titles.

On second thought, forget context, what's wrong with using the word at any time. All of these four-letter words have their origin in the ancient Anglo-Saxon language. Everybody knows them, even if they don't use them in conversation, so what's the big deal. These four letter words will be common currency in conversation within a couple of generations, and people then will look back with amusement at us and our prim and proper ways.

Ed Dirben, London, England

It's a great Middle English word. I find it quite satisfying that the middle-American fools who listen to the Today show were subjected to a short sharp shock of reality. The "controversy" is another idiotic spasm of sheer hypocrisy.

Jared, Northampton, MA

I thought this was about words but large numbers of you seem to resent firearms. Are you envious or frightened? Those of you who so resent the U.S. of A. are free to depart - last I checked.

Gary Shields, Auburn, California

So, I assume NBC won't be showing "Shameless" or "City of Vice" then.

Ken Whysall, Hemel Hempstead,

John B - I agree, let's not pussy-foot around. Good one.

Rich, Philadelphia,

I think it all depends on context & who you're talking to. My very elderly parents can't cope with the c-word, but they can't cope with any words, even "medical" ones, referring to the genitals. I know youngish women who occasionally use the word in a light-hearted way & no-one seems to mind. When used in anger or as a frequent swear word by men in pubs etc, it does sound offensive. But why should women not reclaim the c-word? We should be able to use non-medical language for ordinary parts of the body, without pussy-footing around.

John B, London,

R Spandit (possibly not your real name; I look forward to Bart Simpson using that one when he rings Moe's Tavern) - GREAT comment.

David Harrison, Manchester, UK

It's funny. Until three centuries ago the'C-word' was the accepted word for the female sex. The Romans had the quite ordinary 'cunnus' and 13th century London had a road in the red light district called 'Gropecuntelane'.

More amusing still, all Roman soldiers sheathed their swords in their 'vaginas' which was still the French name for a scabbard in Napoleonic times.

The irony of 'The Vagina Monologues' , that Eve Ensler misses in her play, is that 'vagina' was an euphemism created by a man to allow faint -hearted ladies to avoid the use of the 'C-word'. A bit like saying, 'down there'.

elle f, brussels, belgium

I've never accepted the prim and proper view that swearing is a sign of a limited vocabulary. I have a really broad vocabulary, which happens to include lots of swear words.

Good for Jane Fonda and I hope that this gave the dull media morality watchdog, the FCC, even more palpitations than Janet Jackson's frankly unpleasant nipple slip at the SuperBowl.

The US needs to get less sanctimonious (good thing that Romney and Huckabee are out of the race) and focus on its real issues...like disaffected students' ready access to guns.

David Harrison, Manchester, UK

The land of the Free now baulks at saying the names of plays or parts of plays.

Hurrah.

James, Glasgow,

So the line is drawn at the C word. Not for much longer, it would appear.

Gerry, Glasgow,

I acted in this play whilst I was at university - and I have to say that the part Fonda refers to was all about reclaiming the word cunt. I can understand why people who don't understand this context would find it upsetting - but the point made in the Vagina Monologues is that it is a word that is offensive to women, but that women can reclaim it. Slightely hippy dippy maybe - but it certainly puts Honda's use of the word in a different light. Having not seen the whole interview I do wonder if she did use the word having explained this context.

Claire Lawry , Perth, Australia

Protect me from the 'C' word, and the 'F' word too, that's a nughty one. Oh, and while we're at it, could everyone in the world also agree not to utter the 'S' word. Every time I hear that one I have to wash my ears out with soap. It is SO wicked. I only want to hear words that you can find in an Enid Blyton book, then the world would be a much better place. I have to go to bed now, it's almost 7:00 pm. Night night everybody.
xxxxxxxx

Samantha Blenkinsop, Leeds,

Sometime in the early 80s I was at a McDonalds in Fairfax, VA. It was lucnhtime and the pace was crammed with grandmothers and children. Men in three piece suits were conversing and using bar talk as if they were the only ones there. What a shame. Recently I politely asked someone in a family restaraunt to be aware of children in the dining room because they were cursing loudly. I was berated and received no support from the manager. When the main potty mouth suggested I should leave, or be carried out, I explained I was about to leave, that my wife was in the restroom, and until she was ready to leave, they could gather a crew to remove me. I weigh 300 pounds and swim 3 days a week. The potty mouth shut up and went back to the table.

John Butler, Tapahannock, VA

J Gibson, Have you ever though of why it is the nastiest word in any context? It is really strange, we all know what the word means. It is descriptive word for a certain part of the females body, but then so are other words that get used much more often and one which is used on TV allot, It is the same word that the Americans use as a harmless word for bottom. Why is that word not just as nasty? After all it means exactly the same thing to the Brits.

The word in question is only the nastiest word you could hear because it is not used in public, nothing to do with the subject matter. If everybody started using it tomorrow then by 3pm it would have ceased to become the nastiest word you have heard and would be no more harmful than 'sugar'. So it is not the word that anyone finds so disgusting but just the fact we are not allowed to say it is enough to make it wrong.

When you think about it is stupid, no word should be banned from use.

GM, Brisbane,

Will someone please tell me what the C word is? Is it Crap, Cobblers, Codswallop, Cack, all descriptive off Nulab output?

John Lee, Wirral, Cheshire, USSRWE

Janet Jackson has to apologize for a nipple that no one saw while NBC apologises for Fonda for using the C word during morning televsion. Makes sense to me.

Blair, Fargo,

Nowadays all the other swear words are bandied about in everyday conversation and in the media, it's good to see one word still retains it's shock value. It's a vile, vulgar and base word. Keep it that way - reserve it for when conventional language fails and your expression deserves no more than a primitive slur.

Ed, Perth, Australia

American broadcaters and their regulators are funny, getting into a stew about perfectly good English words and harmless wardrobe malfunctions. There should be more freedom in the land of the free.

Richard Baron, London,

Mike, that's odd, I can't find a paper that doesn't go on endlessly about immigration, do tell me which one you're reading that won't mention the word.

Agreed with all the other posters who are amazed that the use of any word, however vulgar, should cause more outrage and apparently gain more media space and airtime than the deaths of young people at the hands of other youngsters - wierd priorities! But remembering back to the incredible furore caused by Janet Jackson's nipple, perhaps this is nothing new.

Ruth , Glasgow , Scotland

Whatever happened to the saying once taught in schools, "Sticks and Stones may break my bones" but words will never hurt me....But actually I too would be shocked if "THAT" word was said in my presence, it is the nastiest word you can say in any context

J Gibson, Gateshead, England

Jane was talking about the play, not using the word otherwise. George Bush is offensive to me.

Helen Carey, Vashon, WA

I see a lot of criticism for the U.S. network getting bent out of shape for using the "c-word," but I don't see anyone here actually using the word, probably because their comments wouldn't be printed, or would be censored, if they did.

Throwing stones?

T. Roth, Danbury, Connecticut, USA

The Bill of Wrongs by Molly Ivins and Lou Dubose ( the Executive Branch's Assault on America's Fundamental Rights!) makes this sound like a tea party. George Bush has taken our Constitution and attempted to make a paper airplane out of it.

Mom, San Francisco, California

Strange from a country that produces the largest amount of internet porn on earth.

Stu, North Sydney, Canada

Jane Fonda is and always has been a tragic clown. People of her ilk do cannot separate their opinions from wisdom.

Patrick Quinn, Garland, Texas

Can anyone say "context"? With the hugh deal made of this I thought she used the word in casual conversation. She was talking about a part of a nationally recognized play. The title of this section used this word. I really don't see the big deal here.

Heather, Suisun City, CA

It's all about who says the words. If you are a relatively conservative radio show host and say a bad word. You are trounced on. If you are a liberal activist on a liberal tv show, it's a slip. ooopps
It's a word. If you don't like it, change the channel!

Bob Gibbs, salem, nh

That is just Jane Fonda being who she is, in your face, after all she is in the play right!! I don't like her at all as a person, but she is a talanted actress. There is much more offensive things in just the advertisements these days.
By the way look who brought up the anti-gun issues?......some one from Brazil, Singapore, Liverpool etc. Makes you wonder who would like to disarm the citizens of the US and wipe out our ability to exercise our 2nd amendment rights......also make us easy targets.

Shirley, Anytown, Oregon

Why are Americans so upset about one profanity and one inadvertanly exposed nipple than the obsenity of unrestricted gun ownership.

Dave, Lancashire, UK

Sorry you had to go to Nam, but that stuff about Jane Fonda in Vietnam is an Urban Legend, Garry.
Check it out at: http://www.snopes.com/military/fonda.asp

Gabs Fabian, Berlin, Germany

As someone else says, doesn't the US have more pressing problems - the war and guns, for a start?

She was describing the name of that part of the play, wasn't she? So what's the big deal? Come on, what is the big deal anyway, regardless of the context? If you are that offended by one word you really are leading sheltered lives.

Elmo, Los Angeles

Elmo, Los Angeles, CA

This country is so bass ackward! I mean come on!! The "c" word. *gasp*. Know what I have to say about that? BFD!! If this country were any more uptight about sex and the body parts involved with sex we would need to start worrying about the population declining!

J. McCarthy, Bakersfield, Ca

Such hypocrites. In France or Spain to use the equivalent word is merely as strong as "fool". I have to agree with Phil from Liverpool it's about time the americans woke up and took a good look at themselves. Maybe president obama will undertake an honest assessment of the damage the WASP culture does to their country.

David, Melbourne,

Guns don't kill people, husbands that come home early do.

Jake, Bay area, California

Do you realize that in 2005 over 14000 people were killed by gunfire in the USA while there were 40 in England and Wales!My country is insane in protecting the right to "own" not "bear" arms...Jim

Jim, Glenwood, USA Iowa

i am not so concerned about Jane Fondas choice of words, as much as I am about much unnecessary conjecture about it. some people must live a very sheltered life, or, are looking for something to react to. Jane Fonda and her family have a solid reputation in the world of entertainment, and should not have to apologize for this oversght. Do we not have more important things to deal with other than knee jerk reaction to this "blunder" Lets be fanatical about dealing with poverty, abuse, "gas prices", etc, etc, etc. She made a "miscue", lets give it a rest.

D. Stanley, Prince George, Canada

I don't like her for what she did up North, but she has a right to say what she thinks. It's America !

Tet Offensive Vet

Bob, wilmington, de

I agree that though the use of the C word is cringe-worthy, it is used in the Vagina Monologues, which is probably why the word came so easily to Jane Fonda. By the way, I have read Fonda's latest book and she is an amazing, perceptive and intelligent woman. Her anti-war stance during Vietnam was out of love for her country and concern for the soldiers!!!!

Sue Emerson, Burien, King Wa.

Hmm.. the "C" word...Hmmm... a word that is banned on U.S T.v, for fear of offending the American viewers and the sponsors and programmers.
What COULD it be?

Conciliation? catholicism? charity? culture?

I find it it hilarious that a country that will issue a legal permit for a handgun to a child, needs to make a major issue over an expletive germanic word related to human genitalia.
Apparently its perfectly fine to mass produce weapons that can be sold left right and centre to blow a human being`s insides onto the outside, but heaven forbid anyone should say a rude word live on TV.

Phil J N, Liverpool,

phew, for a second there i thought she had started to support chelsea!

R Spandit, newcastle,

The latest shooting in the US shows the real problem. It is GUNS that is the REAL PROBLEM that the US shold be more worried about. Since the COLUMBINE, how many had become followers of this insaneous acts.

Desmond Toh, Singapore, Singapore

Jane Fonda is no good never has been and never will be....I can't even stomach the thought of her name let alone ever seeing her on TV.

Vietnam Veteran 1966-1967

Need I say more....I wont forget the vets

Garry Heselton, Fremont, Ohio

Don´t these TV executives have anything better to do. HELLO!!!!

What´s the big deal in using the C-Word?

They should worry about putting together better shows, less violence on TV. They worry about the c-word, well people aren´t shooting each other over the c-word. Guns, guns that´s the problem, not bad language.
Wake up USA!!!

Reg Agulha, São Paulo, Brazil

Mike, Immigration is in the papers pretty much constantly. If people are telling YOU not to talk about it, is it perhaps because you're talking about it non-stop or are you actually being offensive?

Kieran, London,

So much for it being an unspoken word, Mike.

Jenni, Cardiff, UK

I fnd Ms. Vieira's apology too little, too late, she should have immediately responded to Ms. Fonda's obscenity instead of laughing, which gave the apearance that she had no problem with the use of the "C " on live television. I have been a loyal fan of the today show for many years, however, I will be watching the other morning shows in the future.

catherine a polizotto, massapequa, new york

Really...does anyone expect anything else from Fonda? She's little more than a no-brained, attention seeking loudmouth, rather like the rest of Hollywood.

Viv, London, England

Oh, grow up...!!!!

Neil, London, UK

Poor Jane, poor world. You can lie as much as you like about terrorism, whip up hatred against minority groups, incarcerate or execute innocent people, or just feather your nest with public money - but don't whatever you do say, erm ... sorry, can I say it here ...?

sue, oxford,

given the choice of being forced to listen to the "C" word or sitting in guantanamo bay for 5 years suffering torture without trial...hmm i know which one i'd choose...

Z, London,

How utterly hilarious. Wish I had seen it. Wish the Brits could see the Americanized version of a live Amy Winehouse concert. It's mostly censor's bleeps, set to music. How miserable is this country?

Carmen, Nashville, TN USA

Over here in the UK we have the I word that we are not allowed to talk about..
Immigration...oops I said it now this won't be printed.

Mike Jones, Farnborough, Hampshire