Train Wrecks
Don Imus Canned by CBS Radio -- Ho, Ho, Ho

Imus is firedDon Imus was just fired by CBS Radio in the wake of his "nappy-headed hos" slur, meaning he will no longer be on the air, either on television or radio, effective immediately.

Imus was originally suspended by CBS for two weeks after he made his remark last week on his radio and television shows. MSNBC took the step of pulling his TV simulcast off the air yesterday, but public outrage swelled and advertisers disappeared in droves.

In a statement announcing the firing, CBS chairman Leslie Moonves said:

"From the outset, I believe all of us have been deeply upset and revulsed by the statements that were made on our air about the young women who represented Rutgers University in the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship with such class, energy and talent. Those who have spoken with us the last few days represent people of goodwill from all segments of our society – all races, economic groups, men and women alike. In our meetings with concerned groups, there has been much discussion of the effect language like this has on our young people, particularly young women of color trying to make their way in this society. That consideration has weighed most heavily on our minds as we made our decision, as have the many emails, phone calls and personal discussions we have had with our colleagues across the CBS Corporation and our many other constituencies."

Reader Comments

(Page 81 of 81) Previous 15 Comments

1201. The enemy of radio is dead air. Talk show hosts all across the country have verbal diarrhea from time to time. The good ones just have it less than the bad ones. Imus has been around a long time. He must be one of the better ones who understands his medium. His attempt to be hip was unfortunate and misguided, but ya gotta fill the airtime with something. The women, who I doubt even listen to the show, should've laughed or said "screw you, you ridiculous idiot." But they perpetuated nonsense by acting insulted and relying on losers like Sharpton and Jackson to defend them. They should've said they needed no defending by anyone, especially a man.

Posted at 12:01PM on Apr 20th 2007 by Catalina

1202. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are not very effective healers. It's no wonder why blacks and whites are feeling more divided than ever in the wake of the Imus hype. I, for one, am very angry that the inflammatory rhetoric of both Sharpton and Jackson have enormously set back America's struggle to eradicate racism. Let's not be fooled by those who would create such controversy just to further their own agendas. Do Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, MSNBC and CBS think that blacks are so ignorant as not to understand that the dismissal and the scapegoating of Imus has nothing to do with a noble cause? To expect anyone to buy into that is even more of an insult than what Imus said. Let's unite, blacks and whites alike, and make a real effort to understand each other. Somehow, I don't think that Sharpton and Jackson would be all that pleased if we did.

Posted at 12:26AM on Apr 20th 2007 by love is multiplication not division

1203.

CBS has started firing other popular jocks in select markets for satire and joking material. One New York jock may be fired for a prank call at a chinese restaurant, a fairly standard bit.

It's a double standard, if Imus had skin of any other color this would be a non-issue. Wait and see how many are fired for making 'white guys cant dance' jokes (none), or similar non-inflamatory hackery. Wait and see how many of these rappers Sharpton is going after change their ways, how many will be fired if they don't (none). It's completely absurd. If they keep this up it will seal my decision to go satellite radio.

In NY a standard CBS radio practice is the N-word is bleeped UNLESS a black person says it. Does this make any sense whatsoever? They need to apply the rule evenly or not apply it at all.

Posted at 12:45PM on Apr 23rd 2007 by Tom

1204. Oh and since it was brought up TMZ appears to be owned by warner brothers (Time Warner).

Posted at 1:03PM on Apr 23rd 2007 by Tom

Previous 15 Comments