Last fall, Chapman was involved in a scandal surrounding a surreptitiously recorded conversation he had with his son Tucker about his current girlfriend, an African American woman. In the tape, Chapman hurls many invectives at his son and makes racial slurs about the girlfriend. Tucker then sold those conversations to a tabloid, creating controversy about whether the Dog was a closet racist.

The ensuing flap caused A&E to suspend the show indefinitely, but since that time, Chapman has made grand efforts within the African American community to apologize and heal any wounds caused by his poor judgment. Many fans, both black and white, came forward defending Chapman and stated ultimately this was a private matter between father and son, and should never have been made public.

From TMZ:

A network official confirms to TMZ that the show is going back into production, but they’ve not yet set a premiere date. As of now, they’re gearing up — big time — in Hawaii and production will begin ASAP. Makeup artists and camera crews have been hired, and houses and cars have been rented, all for the return of the show.

A&E had suspended production on “Dog the Bounty Hunter” indefinitely after a recording surfaced featuring Chapman making racial slurs. Chapman immediately began a tour of forgiveness, working with CORE and other groups to promote racial equality. We’re told network execs were “very pleased” with Dog’s attempt to make amends and his reaching out to members of the African American community.

A&E isn’t just making this decision out of the goodness of their hearts either. The show was insanely popular for the network, here and internationally — airing in over 20 countries.

I for one am glad to see the Dog back in action. We at Glosslip defended him immediately after the incident, while denouncing the use of racial stereotypes and hurtful slurs. Our perspective was that Dog was a man of the streets and using these terms were part of his makeup, but that his actions were not that of a man with deep-seated racial biases. Unlike say Imus, whose a bigoted idiot and meant what he said.

Glad to see A&E came to their senses. Dog, may I suggest you use this opportunity to show some decorum and allow your true nature to shine through. Just my humble opinion.

It would seem that Duane “Dog” Chapman’s son Tucker has a bit of a chip on his shoulder about his famous bounty hunter dad…because this isn’t the first time he’s sold information about his dad to the tabloids:

Meanwhile, a source tells TMZ that the revelation that Dog’s son Tucker was the one who sold his father’s rant to the National Enquirer isn’t so shocking — given that he’s done it before. We’re told that just a few months back, Tucker was paid by the tabloid for a story about his dad disappearing.

Tucker seems to be upset with his father because Dog disapproves of his girlfriend, who happens to be black:

Attorney Brook Hart told The Associated Press that Chapman’s son, Tucker, sent the recording to the tabloid for “a lot of money.”

“I guess because of whatever level of anger he had of his father, he felt the need to express it in that manner,” Hart said. [...]

In the conversation, Chapman urges Tucker to break up with his girlfriend. He also expresses concern about the girlfriend trying to tape and go public about the TV star’s use of the N-word.

In a statement, the 54-year-old Chapman said he has “utmost respect and aloha for black people who have suffered so much due to racial discrimination and acts of hatred.

“I did not mean to add yet another slap in the face to an entire race of people who have brought so many gifts to this world,” he said. “I am ashamed of myself and I pledge to do whatever I can to repair this damage I have caused.”

Hart said his client is not a racist and vowed never to use the word again.

“I have never seen anything that suggests he judges people by the color of their skin or racial background or anything but on their character,” he said. “Duane lost his composure and made very, very inappropriate remarks, for which he truly regrets.”

Chapman said he was “disappointed in his choice of a friend, not due to her race, but her character. However, I should have never used that term.”

From what I’ve read about the incident, and heard on the recording, it isn’t the fact that the girl is black that upset Dog…it was her questionable character.  He seemed to be under the impression that Tucker could have chosen more wisely in his choice of companion, considering the family profession.  And you know what?  He’s right.  When you’re in that sort of job, you do need to be very careful about the company you keep.

It also seems that Tucker, 23, has just been released from prison after serving time on a 20-year drug charge.  Perhaps he needs to take a closer look at his choice of friends.

For his part, Dog has issued an apology:

“My sincerest, heartfelt apologies go out to every person I have offended for my regrettable use of very inappropriate language. I am deeply disappointed in myself for speaking out of anger to my son and using such a hateful term in a private phone conversation. It was completely taken out of context. I was disappointed in his choice of a friend, not due to her race, but her character. However, I should have never used that term.

I have the utmost respect and aloha for black people – who have already suffered so much due to racial discrimination and acts of hatred. I did not mean to add yet another slap in the face to an entire race of people who have brought so many gifts to this world. I am ashamed of myself and I pledge to do whatever I can to repair this damage I have caused. In Hawaii, we have something called Ho’oponopono, where people come together to resolve crises and restore peace and balance.

I am meeting with my spiritual advisor, Rev. Tim Storey, and hope to meet with other black leaders so they can see who I really am and teach me the right thing to do to make things right, again. I know that all of my fans are deeply disappointed in me, as well, as I have tried to be a model for doing the right thing. I did not do the right thing this time, and hope you will forgive me. We learn from our mistakes, as my story of overcoming a life of crime has proven, and I will learn from this one for the rest of my life.”

You know what?  I think he is sincere.  Unlike so many celebrity blowhards, Dog is actually out there trying to do something for the good of society.  He has actively worked with people of every race in his job, not just busting them but trying to help them become better people and get off drugs, crime, whatever.  I’ve watched his show, read about him, and from everything I’ve seen Dog is not a racist.

He is, however a human being who made a mistake in his words.  in his line of work, he mixes with the seedy underbelly of society that most of us turn our backs on, and this is the language they use.  So should he throw away all these years of trying to do good, because of one incident?  No, he definitely shouldn’t have used the word.  It’s a horrible word.  But we should throw him under the truck because of it?  I know people personally who have vile language when they are pushed or angry, but who are in reality very kind people.  Anyone is capable of saying anything, if pushed far enough.

It would also seem that his son Tucker just might be in violation of privacy laws in Hawaii, simply by taping the conversation to start with:

What I wonder, though: What about laws against wiretapping? It was this kind of taping that got Linda Tripp into trouble when she recorded her phone conversation with Monica Lewinsky. Since Maryland has a law that forbids taping a phone call without the other party’s permission, the state tried to prosecute Tripp for the Lewinsky tapes. In the end, the prosecution was complicated by the fact that Tripp had made an immunity agreement with Ken Starr’s office and that the prosecution’s star witness was the less than credible Lewinsky.

But what about a case against Tucker Chapman’s case, which presumably does not suffer from the same impediments?

I did a bit of research, trying to find out what Tucker’s state of residence is. The closest I got to an answer was this Associated Press story, which mentions that there is a Honolulu phone number listed under Tucker’s name. If he’s indeed covered under Hawaii’s jurisdiction, then I wonder if Tucker is in violation of §711-1111 of Hawaii’s Code, Violation of privacy in the second degree.

The statute is a bit confusing. (Or maybe it’s just been too long since I’ve practiced law.) But from what I can tell, Tucker might have a problem. The Code seems to say that someone who records a phone conversation without the permission of both parties is criminally liable. On the other hand, the Code’s commentary says:  “If one of the parties to the communication authorizes its interception or recordation (e.g., in an attempt to trace obscene or extortionary telephone calls), criminal sanctions ought not to result.”

Hmmmm. Tucker certainly authorized the recordation (what a word). But his motives were a little less pure than trying to trace an obscene caller. (Not that Dog’s language was exactly pure and virtuous, but you know what I mean.) I guess we’ll have to wait and see whether Hawaiian prosecutors think a crime has been committed.

So basically Tucker could be prosecuted for doing the taping.  I hope the money he got from the Enquirer was worth selling out his father.

Let me ask you this:  Why is it that some black people can say this word, over and over, in reference to themselves, and it’s perfectly fine?  I guarantee you that if you put a hidden mic on some of the black rappers who throw this word around so conspicuously (along with the obligatory “b*tches” and “hos” and whatever else), you’ll hear people of all races called every name they can think of.  Same with white people.  Same for all races.  People say ignorant things all the time about other races.  I’ve said it before…stupidity knows no race, gender, age, or nationality.  Why isn’t the nation in an uproar about rapper Nas naming his new cd “Nigger”?  What’s the difference?

Dog may have been stupid, but he isn’t a racist.  People don’t show racism by their words.  Ignorance, yes, but not racism.  Racism is in one’s actions.  Racism is so much more than a word.  And words can only hurt if we allow them to.