Kelly Rowland upsets Australian fans of The Voice after using term 'spastic'

It is believed the singer was unaware that the term is considered offensive in Australia and the UK

Kelly Rowland managed to unintentionally offend viewers of The Voice after she used the word "spastic" when talking on the Australian version of the show.

The American artist was talking to host Sonia Kruger about the difficulty in selecting songs for artists when she replied: "When you're making the decision you are kind of spastic.

She continued: "You don't know what to do but you want to make the right decision."

As other publications have pointed out, in the US "spastic" generally means "clumsy and energetic". However in the UK and Australia, it is more usually considered as a cruel or pejorative term for someone living with a disability.

Viewers picked up on the awkward moment and aired their confusion on social media:

A similar gaffe was reportedly made when Rowland appeared on the X Factor in 2013. It is understood that she did not intend to cause offence.

Rowland joined the judging panel on The Voice Australia in 2017. In April she reunited with her former Destiny's Child bandmates for an epic set at Coachella Festival 2018.

The Independent has contacted a representative for Kelly Rowland for comment.