Karen Clark Sheard Says She Used the N-Word During Church Sermon and Never Meant to ‘Offend Anyone’

Gospel artist and preacher Karen Clark Sheard has built her profession on spreading God’s word to the world in unconventional ways.

A pioneer of latest gospel music, Clark Sheard, along along with her 4 sisters—Jacky Clark Chisholm, Denise “Niecy” Clark-Bradford, Elbernita “Twinkie” Clark, and Dorinda Clark-Cole—founded the iconic group The Clark Sisters under the leadership of their mother, Dr. Mattie Moss Clark.

The chart-topping quartet is widely credited with transforming gospel music into the mainstream, but has been criticized over the years for being too worldly.

Recently, Clark Sheard’s unorthodox hermeneutics have invigorated the family’s conversation about the sacred and the secular. But like a real Sister Clark, the soprano has maintained class and authenticity in her approach to saving souls.

While interview in a Baller Alert, Clark Sheard was asked a few sermon from ten years ago through which she said the N-word.

Reporter Ty Cole first shared that he, his family and many others enjoyed her sermons, then discussed a moment in her profession that went viral when she “expressed something with so much passion that it caught everyone’s attention “. The singer was initially confused, not knowing what viral moment he was talking about.

“You were preaching a sermon and then at some point,” Cole explained before using an expletive, “I fell out,” adding, “How do you feel, enjoying moments like that that show your authentic human side… kind of breaking the stereotypes without gospel characters, that are often seen.”

A clip of the sermon titled “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” was posted on YouTube in 2012. Early in the video, Clark Sheard admits that God had to give her about “1,000” possibilities due to her imperfections.

About 12 minutes into the sermon, the Detroit native begins talking about people covered in anointing oil, claiming that those without it are bad news. Here, he uses the word “oil” to represent the covering of a pastor or leadership in a church.

“You’ve got people who don’t have kerosene and you’ve got fools with them, you know, you’ve got fools with n-gas, I mean people,” she said.

She explained: “They will keep putting all the blame on the pastor and the first lady, but they will not look at themselves.”

Although Cole and some others stated that Clark Sheard used the n-word by accident, the video shows that she was aware that she was using an expletive to provoke a response from the crowd.

The viral clip sparked a direct backlash from fans online after the interview clip was shared on Instagram. Mostly saying, “There WILL BE NO SAVINGS FOR THE CLARK SISTERS!!! Especially KCS!!!”

One person said, “Kirk Franklin can swear at his son… Karen can say the N-word… next topic. They’re human.”

Another added: “She may be a gospel legend, but her Detroit roots run deep and (ninja) are (ninja-ing).”

A 3rd comment read: “She didn’t say anything improper! Please don’t play with Aunt Karen.

Clark Sheard calmly approached the query and answered with the skill of a seasoned artist.

She diplomatically said she tries to preach love and not judge people, directing the reporter to the heart of her sermon: “You have to let the word do the work.”

She finally gave the reporter a tough time, saying, “I’m just careful because I don’t want to offend anyone.”

Fans weren’t offended, adding: “That’s what our older people say. And it worked, because we’re talking about a sermon here.”

Part of what has at all times endeared Clark Sheard and her sisters to the public eye is their down-to-earth nature.

Although early of their profession they were perceived by some traditionalists as too secular, sparking debates about the boundaries of gospel music, they boldly introduced elements of jazz, fusion, funk, disco and R&B into their sound. In their act, additionally they engaged young individuals with street language.

In fact, their unforgettable appearances in “Soul Train” and on Studio 54 in 1982, he received each acclaim and criticism for difficult the norms of gospel music. These then-revolutionary moves paved the way for future generations of artists equivalent to Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, Tamala Mann, Tye Tribbett and many others.

As a pioneer in her field, it is apparent that this just isn’t the first time she has used this word.