A viewer called an Atlanta news anchor a racial slur. But she got the last word

An Atlanta news anchor confronted a viewer who called her the "n-word" during Tuesday's coverage of the mayor's race.

Sharon Reed of CBS46 publicly shared an email from someone known as Kathy Rae, who used a racial slur in describing the journalist.

During a #CBS46TalkBack segment, Reed read the viewer's email.

"I think it's fair for people to see what she wrote and get my response," Reed told her viewers before she read the Kathy Rae email.

'"(Y)ou need to be fired for the race baiting comment you made tonight(.) (I)t's o.k. for blacks to discuss certain subjects but not whites, really??? ... you are a racist Niger," the email stated, misspelling the offending word.

Reed said Kathy Rae mischaracterized her on-air comments.

"I didn't say that white people couldn't talk about race," Reed said during the segment. "I think race is an authentic conversation to have."

She cautioned against mischaracterizing other people's words.

Reed spoke directly into the camera to the email's author: "I won't mischaracterize your view either, Kathy Rae. I get it. On Dec. 5, 2017, you think it's OK to call this journalist a (n-word). I don't. But I could clap back and say a few things to you, but instead, I'll let your words, Kathy Rae, speak for themselves. And that will be the last word."

The offending email came while the news team was reporting on the tight Atlanta mayor's run-off between Keisha Lance Bottoms, who is black, and Mary Norwood, who is white.

Bottoms got the most votes, but Norwood is calling for a recount.

Liz Fabian: 478-744-4303; @liz_lines

This story was originally published December 6, 2017 at 3:55 PM with the headline "A viewer called an Atlanta news anchor a racial slur. But she got the last word."