A&E cable channel has suspended production on Duane “Dog” Chapman’s show “Dog the Bounty Hunter” after learning of a phone conversation in which Chapman made some racist insults.

Duane Chapman’s racial slur was made public by the National Enquirer on its website yesterday afternoon, from a taped phone conversation between Chapman and his son Tucker. Chapman apparently expressed his disagreement over Tucker’s girlfriend, an Afro-American teacher named Monique Shinnery.

Chapman said in a statement on Wednesday that when he used the N-word he did not mean to insult the color of his son’s girlfriend; he was allegedly trying to point at her character, which he apparently does not approve of. He explains that he made use of those words because of his anger towards his son’s bad choices.

“I have the utmost respect and aloha for black people who have suffered so much due to racial discrimination and acts of hatred,” Chapman began his apology. “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.

“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,” he said.

In the audiotape made public by the Enquirer, Chapman can be heard as he tells his son that Monique’s presence would prevent the show’s crew from using racial slurs.

“I'm not taking a chance...not because she's black but because we use the word n----- sometimes here. I'm not going to take any chance ever in life of losing everything I've worked for 30 years because some drunken n----- heard us say n----- and turned us into the Enquirer magazine…I'm not taking that chance at all never in life. Never…”

Chapman has reportedly already sought guidance and forgiveness from his pastor.

Reverend Tim Storey, who is an African-American and Chapman’s spiritual advisor, told TMZ.com: “I was shocked, because I don't know that to be Duane. I felt that he had to be accountable to what he said. When I asked him what took place, why he said it, he said that he was angry with his son about many things.”

Storey also said that Chapman is not a racist and that anger made him use inappropriate words at an inappropriate time: “What shocked me was that he used the N word. I know he is not a racist. He's been to black churches with me to help inner-city kids.”

Chapman’s phone conversation has already caused reactions among civil rights activists. Roy Innis, Chairman of the Congress for Racial Equality, told the National Enquirer that Chapman “should not have a show” and added:

“He needs to answer for his behavior. When someone gets the opportunity to use the airwaves, he becomes a role model, whether he likes it or not. Dog Chapman should not be in that position, posing as a good guy.”

A&E promptly reacted to the Enquirer’s revealing tape, saying in a statement to TMZ: “We take this matter very seriously. Pending an investigation, we have suspended production on the series. When the inquiry is concluded we will take appropriate action.”