Talk show host Don Imus has been suspended from his show by both CBS Radio and MSNBC, which telecasts his radio show every morning. The suspension is for two weeks but doesn't start until next Monday.
This is because Imus referred to the Rutgers women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos." Imus went on Al Sharpton's radio show on Monday and, as Howard Stern pointed out today, probably made things worse by the apology he made there and other comments he made.
MSNBC says that any "any future relationship with Imus is contingent on his ability to live up to his word." I wonder why the suspension doesn't start til next Monday. Do they want the ratings bump the controversy is going to create? Will Imus talk about it on his show the next four days? CNN has certainly been talking about it all day.













Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
4-10-2007 @ 7:48AM
Bill said...
I think the guy's a jerk and a bigot, but I do have some sympathy for the guy in this case. He got hired to say outrageous stuff, it's his job to say outrageous stuff, and then they act shocked when he does it. MSNBC and CBS Radio are definitely happy to soak up the ratings provided by this controversy, and then publicly declare their opposition to him so they look good.
http://popculturejunk.blogspot.com/
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4-10-2007 @ 8:19AM
Mariano said...
If what Imus said has caused all this raucus, why don't Sharpton and Jackson picket Howard Stern's program which is a million times more insulting to their people and everybody else.
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4-10-2007 @ 8:19AM
Mark said...
This is a pathetic controversy which once again proves the power of political correctness in our society. Imus can slam almost anyone mercilessly...but female minority athletes are somehow protected? I'M SHOCKED!!!!!!! Imus, Howard Stern, and anyone like them should be canned -- not by their bosses (the hypocritical moneygrubbers!), but by us, the consumers. Stop listening to them! Their verbal slime will fade away..........
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4-10-2007 @ 8:22AM
Rogphi said...
People are becoming way to sensitive, Carlos Mencia and Chris Rock make jokes and comments all the time and no one bats an eyelid. What did anyone expect from Imus anyway?Can we please get over this and move on, people are dying everyday in Iraq, Now thats something to get upset about!
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4-10-2007 @ 8:37AM
grumpyoldman said...
The suspension doesn't start until Monday because there is an previously scheduled radio a thon Thursday and Friday to raise money for children's charities.
And how callous a nation have we become that we can't accept an honest apology anymore??? Let him that is without sin cast the first stone.
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4-10-2007 @ 9:06AM
Brenda said...
Imus,
I absolutely believe that you are a Decent Human Being, who just happened to say something Absurd at the wrong place and time!
As an African American Woman, I want you to know that
I FORGIVE YOU MY BROTHER- GO AND SIN NO MORE!!
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4-10-2007 @ 9:40AM
Harry said...
Anyone who has listened to Imus for any extended period of time over his 35 year broadcasting career knows that he is not a racist or a bigot. What he said was cruel, but not racist. Look it up in the dictionary. Imus takes shots at everyone, including himself and his family. The righteous indignation being hurled by so many only weakens efforts to stamp out true racism and bigotry.
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4-10-2007 @ 9:53AM
Sam G. said...
I'll agree with poster 1: When you hire someone for saying crazy stuff that could sometimes be offensive, you shouldn't be surprised when they, you know, say crazy stuff that may offend people. Imus was basically doing what he was hired to do.
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4-10-2007 @ 10:14AM
scotty said...
So Imus basically gets a two-week paid vacation.
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4-10-2007 @ 10:41AM
rb said...
I believe his commend was racist and shows what really exist inside of him, had he simply said those 'black hos' on the Rutgers team are rough looking that would be understandable. There are some women on all athletic teams who look very rough, scary even. However, that fact that he had to be very specific 'nappy headed' leads me to believe its more than just an off hand comment. Why do people like radio hosts like Imus and Stern who's soul purpose is to be hateful, mean, degrading, and all the horrible things most good Americans abhor. Is it because those people are like them but don't have a platform in which to spread this desease of hate. Lets learn the difference between cultural and ethnic humor and cultural and ethnic degrading. Imus should be fired, M. Gibson and M Richards should be boycotted. #8 has it wrong those who accept racists comments and do nothing weakens the effort to stamp out racism andbigotry.
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4-10-2007 @ 10:54AM
InL.A. said...
I am not a fan of Imus, but agree, Al Sharpton is always quick to pull the race card - and he DOES NOT speak for all black Americans! You will never see educated Americans support his victimized racist opinions (Boohoo poor me...). Further, Imus did not make up that crap - black Americans made up that language and use it all the time, so why is it a big deal when someone uses those statements. Al Sharpton YOU NEED TO GO AFTER YOUR OWN PEOPLE before you start pointing fingers at everyone else - you hypocrite.
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4-10-2007 @ 11:27AM
Harry said...
#12,
What Imus said was mean, hurtful and over the line but, NOT racist.
Name calling for laughs is never a good idea, but determining that Imus' comments somehow indicate an underlying hatred is just silly.
My point is that racism is serious and should not be tolerated. To confuse Imus' statements with actual racism is a foolish knee-jerk reaction that does nothing to fight actual racism.
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4-10-2007 @ 12:37PM
David said...
I will admit I read his comments yesterday and heard them 1,000 times today and I have a question.
What the hell does nappy mean? From what I have looked up it seems to be something dealing with babies.
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4-10-2007 @ 3:08PM
Cyndi said...
Let's get real folks - is this really that news worthy? Imus, that dead blond lady, etc. There are more important things out there.
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4-10-2007 @ 3:18PM
pamela_b3 said...
This man does more good in one day than most of us do in a lifetime. He has said he was wrong, and it was heart felt. It was a crass thing he said, but the good in this man far exceeds the bad.
Pam
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4-10-2007 @ 3:19PM
Where did my stars go? said...
First of all, I am impressed anyone was able to understand anything Imus says. The last time I listened to him all I got was a lot of baritone mumbling.
Secondly, shouldn't the plural of "ho" be "hoes?" I thought Hos was the guy on Bonanza.
I agree with the majority of the posters. This man has made his living being an offensive jerk. Why is anyone surprised?
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4-10-2007 @ 3:35PM
george j. mckinzie said...
the suspension on Imus was wrong by MSNBC. Was that not what he was payed to do. I'am a black man that was not bothered buy what was said. i have followed Imas throughtout my military life into retirement, and think he is a good man.
Mr Sharpton, and Mr Jackson, can you forgive as you have been forgiven.
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4-10-2007 @ 3:49PM
Evorgleb said...
If anyone cares to read it, One of our writers on Highbrid Nation actually worked wit Imus over the last few years at WFAN and had some really interesting things to say about the whole situation with Imus and he also has some inside info that the media hasn't mentioned about the whole story.
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4-10-2007 @ 6:44PM
FransSusan said...
I agree with InLA who said:
"Al Sharpton is always quick to pull the race card - and he DOES NOT speak for all black Americans! You will never see educated Americans support his victimized racist opinions (Boohoo poor me...). Further, Imus did not make up that crap - black Americans made up that language and use it all the time, so why is it a big deal when someone uses those statements."
Al Sharpton as well as Jesse Jackson are both nothing but self-serving hypocrites. They don't care about anything but getting their ugly mugs in front of a camera and lining their pockets with ill-gotten gains. They can't make honest money; they live off others' misfortunes. What Imus said is a non-issue & it has deteriorated into publicity-mongering by Jackson, Sharpton and any other ignorant black who can get his/her face in front of a camera. Have Jackson & Sharpton ever made an honest dime in their sorry lives? They're hypocritical parasites.
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4-10-2007 @ 9:28PM
snickeringsnake said...
W hen will the world jump up say it is bad , when a black or Mexican says something sexiest or racist against white people ?
it is time that these people grow up !
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