Samuel L Jackson turned the tables on Houston-based US TV interviewer Jake Hamilton after being asked about the usage of the ‘N-word’ in Jackson’s forthcoming film Django Unchained.

Jackson has been on the offensive in recent weeks, defending Quentin Tarantino’s warped spaghetti western over its dealings with issues of slavery; he’s also recently attacked Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln for messing up its ending. Back to defending Django Unchained though, he left his Fox-employed interviewer speechless after challenging him to use the ‘N-word’ himself, according to the New York Daily News.

"There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the usage of the N-word in this movie," Hamilton said to Jackson. “No. Nobody. None," Jackson interrupted, asking "The word would be?..." Realizing his interviewers discomfort, the mischievous actor then gave him an ultimatum: "We're not going to have this conversation unless you say it," he told Hamilton. "I don't want to say it," Hamilton responded, before asking Jackson if he would say the word. "No, f*** no," came the actor’s curt response, leaving a beleaguered Hamilton floundering. Eventually he had to give up the ghost, though not before saying it was a great question. Even here he was rebuked, though, with Jackson firing back "it wasn't a great question if you can't say the word."