Chris Rock once said: "Whenever the word  n***a is spoken, it is always followed by the same question: Can white people say the world 'n***a'? The correct answer is: not really." APC founder Jean Touitou is probably wishing he took Rock's advice this week.

At Touitou's AW15 menswear presentation, the designer titled a series of looks LAST Ni##@$ IN PARIS. He also used the n-word repeatedly while speaking to journalists about the collection. Now Timberland have cut ties with APC, citing Touitou's "offensive remarks". (It probably also didn't help that he also referred to Timberland boots as a "very strong ghetto signifier" during his presentation.)

In a statement, the brand said: "Yesterday we became aware of the offensive remarks made by Jean Touitou during his APC fall menswear show in Paris. We have chosen to immediately terminate our involvement with the APC brand, including the footwear collaboration we had planned for this fall."

"Simply stated, this kind of language and approach is in complete contrast with our values. Timberland seeks to collaborate with designers and brands who are at the forefront of lifestyle trends; equally important, they must also share our values. We will not tolerate offensive language or racial slurs of any kind being associated with the Timberland brand."

At the presentation on Saturday, Touitou explained his rationale behind the collection's name: "Because it's the sweet spot when the hood meets Bertolucci's movie Last Tango in Paris. So that's "N****s in Paris" and Last N****s in Paris." According to Style.com, the room responded with "nervous laughter".

Touitou later defended his choice to the site in an email, stating that Kanye had approved of the controversial title: "I am friends with Kanye, and he and I presented a joint collection at the same place, one year ago, and that this thing is only a homage to our friendship. As a matter of fact, when I came up with this idea, I wrote to him, with the picture of the look and the name I was giving to it, and he wrote back immediately saying something like, 'I love this vibe.'"

But even if Kanye gives you the go-ahead, it's probably not the wisest thing to drop the n-word in a room full of journalists. 

For future reference, here is Chris Rock on the one and only time it is acceptable for a white person to say the n-word:

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