Following the outrage over Paula Deen's racial slur, Ciara discussed the relevance of the N-word in 2013.

Paula Deen lost her Food Network deal in the wake of her deposition admission of using racial charged language. Hip-hop singer Ciara claims the use of the word is more complex than many make it out to be.

"That word has as much power as you give it," Ciara told Access Hollywood Live on Tuesday. "As an entertainer you have fun and it's all about the context it's used in. I am an African-American woman, so I can identify with that word in different ways."

According to the 27-year-old, the word can be used by some people in certain situations. However, the singer emphasizes that she wouldn't - and others should not - use the term as a form of degradation. 

"That word is so old that it references the context of where it comes from," Ciara said, according to Access Hollywood Live. "I want to make sure I'm clear about that, it doesn't mean that same thing that it could have meant years ago, especially when we can have fun about it."

Ciara will be releasing her eponymous fifth studio album on July 9.

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