Dermot Kennedy has been told to apologise after using a racial slur during an interview.
The Giants hitmaker has been slammed by Traveller Rights activists after he used the term "knackered" as an example of Irish slang.
In a video posted online by Much, a popular music channel, Kennedy was asked during an interview in Toronto on June 10 to provide examples of Irish slang and explained that "knackered" was a term used to express tiredness.
He then discussed his understanding of a shortened, "really bad" version of the word.
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"If you call somebody a knacker that's really bad, really bad, because the knacker is - to the best of my knowledge - like a horse in the yard that is like dying," he said.
"But it's like a classic thing... like if you were sitting at a table and someone took your food, you'd be like: 'Ah, ya knacker'."
The video clip from the interview - "#DermotKennedy taught us something new," with a laughing emoji - was posted across multiple social media channels before it was promptly deleted.
The singer's comments were criticised by some members of the Traveller community who demanded an apology.
Traveller activist Dr Rosaleen McDonagh said the word was "deeply offensive" and akin to similar "racist-type language that has been used to demean many indigenous and aboriginal peoples".
The director of Irish Traveller Movement (ITM) - a body representing more than 30 Traveller groups - has called for an apology from the singer.
"[The 'K word'] has been used in hate speech towards the Traveller community to degrade and humiliate," said Bernard Joyce.
"It's completely unacceptable and gives offence to our community.
"Dermot Kennedy should give an apology recognising the hurt and pain this word has inflicted on our community with immediate effect."
Human rights activist Rose Marie Maughan also called on the performer to issue an apology.
"Irish society has grown so much in terms of not using racist terms due to the impact they have on marginalised communities, yet the 'K term' is used daily regardless how many times Irish Travellers express our pain," she said.
"He must now do the right thing and apologise to us, and in the future use his platform as an ally to us - calling for the end of the last accepted racism in Ireland."
A rep for Kennedy has been contacted for comment.
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