Dr. Laura Leaving Her Radio Show to ‘Regain First Amendment Rights’

Dr. Laura Schlessinger announced Tuesday night on CNN's "Larry King Live" that she will leave her radio show after her contract expires at the year's end --- the news comes in the wake of fallout from her controversial use of a racial epithet while on the air last week.

Dr. Laura reiterated her apology for the use of the word, explaining, "I always tell people on my show to do the right thing, I thought I was trying to be helpful, I was trying to make a philosophical point but I was wrong and I apologized and there are people who won't accept my apology."

She went on, "I'm here to say that my contract is up for my radio show, and I've made the decision not to do radio anymore…The reason is I want to regain my first amendment rights. I want to be able to say what’s on my mind and in my heart and what I think is helpful and useful without somebody getting angry."