Washington, Mar 16 : Veteran comedian Jackie Mason has come under fire for calling U. S. President Barack Obama a `schvartze', a controversial Yiddish phrase used to describe black people that is allegedly a racist slur.

The comment came during a performance at Feinstein in New York.

At least one member of the audience walked out after Mason called Obama a `schwartza'.

The 72-year-old's use of the word has sparked a row over whether it''s an offensive term - but the comedian is refusing to back down.

"I''m an old Jew. I was raised in a Jewish family where ''schwartza'' was used. It''s not a demeaning word and I''m not going to defend myself," Contactmusic quoted Mason, as telling TMZ. com.

"Chris Rock has told a lot more jokes about whites than I have against blacks. What about the demeaning words blacks say about Jews?

"If it''s a racist society, the white people are the ones being persecuted because they have to defend themselves," he added. (ANI)