Naya Rivera showering
"I have to say I have a theory about showering, (which) is that I think that white people shower a lot more than ethnics," the Puerto Rican and black actress said.
"I feel like showering more than once a day or every day is such a white people thing," she added.
When she returned to host again Wednesday, the 28-year-old actress was singing a different shower tune.
"Yesterday we were talking about a study that says you're supposed to shower once or twice every three days," Rivera said on Dec. 14. "I had an opinion on it that was supposed to be a joke. Apparently it didn't go over so well."
Rivera's words on Tuesday immediately sent shockwaves through the live studio audience and her co-hosts.
"Look, there is an African-American woman right there in a yellow shirt that is about to have a heart attack," Rosie O'Donnell said at one point.
Backing peddling on her statement, Rivera insisted she could "say this" because her half-black, half-Puerto Rican mother showers daily.
Ironically, Rivera, 28, married Ryan Dorsey, a white man, in July.
"I can say that I am now married to a white man and he showers a lot," she continued. "Like, a lot -- two, three times a day. I'm like, 'What are you doing?'"
Her initial damage control continued when she began throwing out recent findings from a study.
"A study says, dermatologist say you are only supposed to shower once or twice every three days," she said, "so I'm right on the mark."
Despite her attempt to ease the awkwardness her shower "theory" left behind, critics took to Twitter to slam the "Glee" star.
"Naya Rivera is a filthy racist pass the word!!!" one user wrote.
"@NayaRivera Actually, showering every day is a hygiene thing, not a 'white people' thing," another tweeted. "I guess it's ok to be racist when you're not white."
Rivera had a clean cut message for the haters: "When you get out of the shower today, get a sense of humor. Love ya!" she tweeted Tuesday.
"It was supposed to be a joke but I apologize if anyone was offended," she said Wednesday before adding, "However, I'm very excited that it sparked a big conversation about how many times you should shower."