Dr. Laura to Leave Radio Show Following N-Word Controversy

Radio advice guru Laura Schlessinger - better known as Dr. Laura - plans to leave her program at the end of the year after her controversial use of the N-word on the air.

Schlessinger sparked off controversy last week when doling out advice to a caller who asking what to do about racial comments made by relatives. Schlessinger suggested the caller was "hypersensitive", noting that many African-Americans regularly use the same racial epithet that they find offensive when it comes from non-blacks.

Schlessinger used the N-word repeatedly during the conversation. She apologized the next day.

On Larry King Live on Tuesday evening, Schlessinger said she was letting her contract expire, but would continue working through her books and the Internet, The Los Angeles Times reported.

"I want my 1st Amendment rights back, which I can't have on radio without the threat of attack on my advertisers and stations," Schlessinger said.

Schlessinger has been on the air for over 30 years, and has the third-highest rated talk radio show in America, after Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity.