HONOLULU -- More people voiced their anger and defense on Thursday for Hawaii bounty hunter and reality TV star Duane "Dog" Chapman after making racist remarks that have been aired on news programs and entertainment shows nationwide.

Chapman is heard repeatedly uses the N-word in reference to his son's African American girlfriend in a taped phone conversation.

The Rev. Al Sharpton said he is willing to meet with Chapman after the reality TV star contacted him on Wednesday, according to ABCnews.com.

"I think that people are still using it now is indefensible and inexcusable because even the NAACP, which I used to be active with, they buried it at their most recent convention to use it," said Faye Kennedy of the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission.

Kennedy said what Chapman is heard saying on the audio tape is wrong, but she gives the bounty hunter a break after his efforts to clean up the community from criminals such as accused rapist Andrew Luster.

"To me if you have a private conversation with your son, when he's outed, it shows that he's a bigot and a terrible racist, but it's not in the same category as someone who goes on the network or goes in print and really says something malicious about people," Kennedy said.

The audio tape of the conversation Chapman had with his son, Tucker, was released Wednesday by the National Enquirer.

"I'm not going to take a chance ever in life losing everything I've worked for 30 years for some ***** *** and her to say **** and turn this into the Enquire Magazine," is an excerpt from the audio recording.

Chapman has apologized, saying he was not angry at the girl, but toward his son. (Read his full statement.)

"I've known him for seven years. I've seen nothing but even-handed, fair treatment of people of all races, all colors all religions. I don't believe he is a racist at all," Chapman's attorney Brook Hart said.

Hart said the terminology his client used is not acceptable, but possibly understandable when you look at his upbringing.

"He's a man who's risen above, but comes from the street. So that the use of the N-word is something that was almost common in his childhood I would imagine, and certainly in prison," Hart said.

Chapman was unavailable for comment on Thursday.

The A&E Network has suspended production of the show "Dog the Bounty Hunter" while it investigates the allegations.

Hart said he does not think the incident will have any affect on his Mexico extradition case, which is still pending.