Slander per Se

Action for defamation. At trial, P is the first witness. P proposes to testify that D said, in the presence of several people, "P is now and has always been a loathsome leper." Dobjects. What ruling and why? Is P's proposed testimony hearsay? If it is hearsay, should it be admitted anyhow? If it is not hearsay, should it nonetheless be excluded?