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Don Imus Apologizes For Racist Remarks

Radio Host Had Called Rutgers Women's Basketball Team "Nappy-Headed Hos"

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NEW YORK, April 6, 2007 | by Judy Faber

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Radio host Don Imus has apologized for remarks he made about Rutgers' women's basketball team.  (WFAN)


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(CBS)  Talk show host Don Imus apologized Friday for remarks he made about the Rutgers University women's basketball team on his syndicated radio show April 4.

He had referred to the team, whose players are mostly African-American, as "nappy-headed hos" on Wednesday's program.

Imus and his crew were discussing the Tennessee's Lady Vols' 59-46 win over Rutgers' Scarlet Knights for the NCAA women's championship the night before.

The often-controversial talker went on to say that the players on Tennessee's team were "all cute girls." His producer, Bernard McGuirk, then referenced Spike Lee's film "School Daze" by comparing the two teams to the film's fictional college cliques divided by skin color known as "jigaboos" and "wannabes."

"(I) Want to take a moment to apologize for an insensitive and ill-conceived remark we made the other morning referring to the Rutgers women's basketball team," Imus said Friday. "It was completely inappropriate, and we can understand why people were offended. Our characterization was thoughtless and stupid, so, and we're sorry."

A Quote

"It was completely inappropriate, and we can understand why people were offended. Our characterization was thoughtless and stupid, so, and we're sorry."

MSNBC, which simulcasts the show, issued a statement Thursday saying they regretted that Imus' remarks were aired on the cable network, and apologized for "these offensive comments."

Imus told The New York Times on Thursday that people should "not worry about some idiot saying something meant to be amusing."

Officials at Rutgers were not amused and echoed Imus' quote to the paper in their statement, saying "We agree with Mr. Imus that this was, in his own words, an 'idiot comment.' We are very proud of the success of the Rutgers women's basketball team."

The National Association of Black Journalists also weighed in on their Web site.

"Has he lost his mind?" said NABJ President Bryan Monroe, vice president and editorial director for Ebony and Jet magazines in Chicago. "Those comments were beyond offensive. Imus needs to be fired. Today."

WFAN's programming department declined to comment on the matter to The Showbuzz other than confirming that Imus had apologized on the air Friday. The "Imus In The Morning" program is produced by WFAN, a CBS radio station in New York, and syndicated nationally.

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Don Imus has had one butt-cheek hanging over the edge for a long time now. He flirts with racism in an effort to make his show more funny and interesting. Now it came back to bite him. I am sorry about this because I think he is a good person. He should not be fired but he should now really change as he promised. He should fire Bernard who spews racist jokes without thought or compunction. Bernard contributes to the show with quick humor but he hurts people in the process. One example is the demeaning portrayal of the New Orleans mayor who is regularly played by Bernard as a stupid and lazy man furthering a steriotype that may be funny to some but is definitely hurtful to the target, his family, and members of his race.
Posted by vcambri at 12:26 PM : Apr 9, 2007
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He should lose his job with WFAN radio. MSNBC should no longer simulcast "Imus in the Morning" on their network. Any politicians, entertainers or TV personality planning to go on his show should think twice about appearing with Imus. African Americans should boycott MSNBC broadcast and COMCAST cable provider if they continue allow this person to appear in their video medium. This is a indirect but direct insult to accomplished African American women such as (Oprah, Maya Angelou, Condeliza Rice, Senator Eva Clayton, Mae Jamison Cathy Hughes and many others)their achievements and contributions to the American society. These young women that were insulted have the same potential and opportunities to achieve greatest as the fore mention women above. His statement "nappy headed hos" reaches further than just to a College Basketball Team. It shines a spotlight on a deep hidden reality of American society that we have yet to "Overcome".
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Posted by iseedatruth at 10:19 AM : Apr 9, 2007
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He should lose his job with WFAN radio. MSNBC should no longer simulcast "Imus in the Morning" on their network. Any politicians, entertainers or TV personality planning to go on his show should think twice about appearing with Imus. African Americans should boycott MSNBC broadcast and COMCAST cable provider if they continue allow this person to appear in their video medium. This is a indirect but direct insult to accomplished African American women such as (Oprah, Maya Angelou, Condeliza Rice, Senator Eva Clayton, Mae Jamison Cathy Hughes and many others)their achievements and contributions to the American society. These young women that were insulted have the same potential and opportunities to achieve greatest as the fore mention women above. His statement "nappy headed hos" reaches further than just to a College Basketball Team. It shines a spotlight on a deep hidden reality of American society that we have yet to "Overcome".
Posted by iseedatruth at 10:11 AM : Apr 9, 2007
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Imus is a good person that said a bad thing because I have been watching him for eleven years regularly to start out my day. I know Imus, Chuck, Bernard, Lou, and the others then learned kindly about Mrs. Imus and later Wyatt Imus. My comment is about Wyatt Imus and what this unfortunate scenario of facts provided by inference from a father to his son. Don Imus is a very good person and I know him well enough [while having much in common with this man] and I apologize for him as well. Believe me, this is not about being 'color blind' in a country that has worsened in acceptance of 'gender bias' and 'racism' being acceptable under the guise of 'humor or comedy!' Wrong, this is not what life is all about. Practical matters, politeness, decency to all just peoples, usually begins a good life and wisdom comes from life experiences from the well known [as well as the insignificant like myself] who are 99% good and considerate and not disrespectful but that 1% when my 'denial' comes before the traditions and steps of my template of living must be understood as but a sympton of a disease or better said, an unfortunate comment like Imus made is but a symptom of what many Americans and noncitizens in this country look over because it is masked or disguised as comedy or in the 'sense of humor' exception to life's generalizations. That simply is not acceptable.
Posted by primitivecoo at 7:39 AM : Apr 9, 2007
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Well, I'm "happy to be nappy" -- so I'm not sure if that's an insult or racist. And since when did the term "ho" become something that meant "black?" I certainly agree that Imus went too far with this one. But come on, must every thing on TV be so *** politically correct and sanitized? Imus says many things about many people --that same week he called Hillary Clinton "evil." The problem with some people is that they pick and choose too much who it's not okay to insult. To be fair, I would like to have seen these same people call for Imus firing years ago over any number of things he said -- then I would think they had a point. Insults are part of the show. I say accept the apology and let him carry on.
Posted by daphine2001 at 7:50 PM : Apr 8, 2007
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why did he call them hos? nappy was bad enough..this was more than RACIST, you jerks..just overlook and pick and choose..disgraceful all around..THANK GOD I AM MIXED RACE!
Posted by dog7771 at 6:46 PM : Apr 8, 2007
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Vanitas vanitatis et omnia vanitas. The preceding was in Latin, so if it doesn't appear, that's why.
Posted by godofredo29 at 5:39 PM : Apr 8, 2007
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Everybody is Racist! Some of us just try a little harder to overcome this and try to be more openminded. Educate yourself and realize we're all in the same boat no matter how you think you see it. Rule of thumb...You might think it, just don't say it! Live and let live.
Posted by unitedkfour at 4:49 PM : Apr 8, 2007
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"I do feel that sometimes ethnic groups say racist comments towards whites, and do not recieve the punishment they should, ...
Posted by ktwills at 12:47 PM : Apr 08, 2007"

And neither should they!

It's not just about mere words; otherwise there wouldn't have been so much heat attach to the addict, Imus', misbehavior.

Unlike the words of the other groups, there is a HISTORY OF NASTY ACTIONS that goes down with white racist statements in America! Get it!
Posted by agnim at 4:18 PM : Apr 8, 2007
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"I do feel that sometimes ethnic groups say racist comments towards whites, and do not recieve the punishment they should, ...
Posted by ktwills at 12:47 PM : Apr 08, 2007"

And neither should they!

It's not just about mere words; otherwise there wouldn't have been so much heat attach to the addict, Imus', misbehavior.

Unlike the words of the other groups, there is a HISTORY OF NASTY ACTIONS that goes down with white racist statements in America! Get it!
Posted by agnim at 4:15 PM : Apr 8, 2007
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