Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin speaks at a Tea Party Express rally in Manchester, New Hampshire September 5, 2011. (Brian Snyder/REUTERS)

NEW YORK - CNN says the use of the Pink song “Stupid Girls” to introduce a segment on Sarah Palin was unintentional and not meant as a commentary on the former Republican vice presidential candidate.

The network, which prides itself on nonpartisan coverage, played the song Sunday to introduce a report about Palin supporting Chick-fil-A.

“The music selection was a poor choice and was not intended to be linked to any news story,” CNN said in a statement to TheWrap. “We regret any perception that they were planned together.”

The statement came after conservative sites, starting with NewsBusters seized on the song selection an example of liberal bias. It comes eight months after “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” apologized for Fallon’s house band, The Roots, playing Fishbone’s “Lyin’ Ass Bitch” as Republican congresswoman Michele Bachmann walked onstage.

“CNN Sunday Morning” anchor Randy Kaye said after the intro, “Sarah Palin is apparently hungry for chicken and controversy.” She then reported on how Palin tweeted a picture of herself and her husband, Todd, visiting a Chick-fil-A.

The company has been widely criticized since its president, Dan Cathy, expressed opposition to gay marriage.