CBS, MSNBC Suspend Don Imus For 2 Weeks

Move Follows Radio Host's Racially Charged Comments; Al Sharpton, Others Call For His Ouster

(CBS/AP)  CBS Radio and MSNBC both said Monday they were suspending Don Imus' morning talk show for two weeks as a protest grew about his reference last week to members of the Rutgers women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos."

The suspension begins next Monday.

MSNBC, which telecasts the radio show, said Imus' expressions of regret and embarrassment, coupled with his stated dedication to changing the show's discourse, made it believe suspension was the appropriate response.

"Our future relationship with Imus is contingent on his ability to live up to his word," the network said.

CBS Radio released a statement promising to monitor the show's content in the future. "We are disappointed by Imus' actions last week, which we find completely inappropriate," the statement read. "We fully agree that a sincere apology was called for and will continue to monitor the program's content going forward."

Imus, who has made a career of cranky insults in the morning, was fighting for his job following the joke that by his own admission went "way too far." He continued to apologize Monday, both on his show and on a syndicated radio program hosted by the Rev. Al Sharpton, who is among several black leaders demanding his ouster.

Imus could be in real danger if the outcry causes advertisers to shy away from him, said Tom Taylor, editor of the trade publication Inside Radio. The National Organization for Women is also seeking Imus' ouster.

"Everyone is on tenterhooks waiting to see whether it grows and whether the protest gets picked up more broadly," Taylor said.

Imus may be in hot water with his network and his listeners, but he's got nothing to fear from the Federal Communications Commission, reports CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes.

The government agency that regulates the radio and television airwaves can levy big fines for sexual content it terms "indecent." But the FCC has no jurisdiction over comments that are considered racist or in plain bad taste. Racist remarks are policed by no one but the broadcasters themselves.

Imus isn't the most popular radio talk-show host — the trade publication Talkers ranks him the 14th most influential — but his audience is heavy on the political and media elite that advertisers pay a premium to reach. Authors, journalists and politicians are frequent guests, and targets for insults.

He has urged critics to recognize that his show is a comedy that spreads insults broadly. Imus or his cast have called Colin Powell a "sniffling weasel," New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson a "fat sissy" and referred to Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado, an American Indian, as "the guy from `F Troop."' He and his colleagues also called the New York Knicks a group of "chest-thumping pimps."

On Sharpton's program Monday, Imus said that "our agenda is to be funny and sometimes we go too far. And this time we went way too far."

Imus made his remark the day after the Rutgers team, which includes eight black women, lost the NCAA women's championship game to Tennessee. He was speaking with producer Bernard McGuirk and said "that's some rough girls from Rutgers. Man, they got tattoos ..."

"Some hardcore hos," McGuirk said.

"That's some nappy-headed hos there, I'm going to tell you that," Imus said.

The Rutgers comment has struck a chord, in part, because it was aimed at a group of young women at the pinnacle of athletic success. It also came in a different public atmosphere following the Michael Richards and Mel Gibson incidents, said Eric Deggans, columnist for the St. Petersburg Times and chairman of the media monitoring committee of the National Association of Black Journalists. The NABJ's governing board, which doesn't include Deggans, wants Imus canned.

[itsrob1]

Freedom of Speech. It's in the constitution. Ever heard of it? Imus has been entertaining people for years. He's funny. Since when is "Nappy Headed Ho" a racial slur? He didn't say "the N-Word." Let's all be adults. If you don't like what he said, then don't listen to him. It's as easy as changing the station. But don't ruin my entertainment for me. No one gripes about the All in the Family reruns on Nick at Nite when Archie Bunker is saying "*******." I rarely watch CBS as it is, although there are a few shows I like. But if they drop Imus over "Nappy Headed Ho" then I will stop watching. But hopefully if Imus does get dumped, Sirius Satellite radio will pick him up where free speech is not forgotten. Quit ******** and crying over Nappy Headed Ho's. There plenty of poverty and destruction in the world. Focus your efforts there.

[eyeamme77]

Check this link out:

http://www.realchange.org/sharpton.htm

[eyeamme77]

I want to know if Imus was a BLACK man, would he have been fired? I doubt it. It%u2019s ok for a Black person to say these things about one another, but as soon as any other race says it; watch out! You%u2019re racist. Boo hoo! Get over it. A lot of us living today had nothing to do with the slavery issues from the PAST and on top of that some of us came from other countries. Imus was treated unjustly just because of a remark that may have been rude to women in general. People make money in comedy by making fun of others. This is general and well known. Hey, if you don't like it change the channel, turn off your TV set and walk away. Those other people getting involved just have to stay in the spotlight. It%u2019s not good enough to say your peace and then leave. You have got to be in the middle of it. What bothers me is that you%u2019re supposed to be a Christian, right? Didn%u2019t JESUS say to forgive and forget? The man apologized. What more do you want, his head on a platter? Some Christian you are! Get over it!!! Move on!!! Get a life!!!

[eyeamme77]

I want to know if Imus was a BLACK man and had said the same thing, would he have been fired? I seriously doubt it! This is another example of people trying to thrust the past into the future. Some of us had nothing to do with slavery or anything else. I am tired of seeing that brought up again and again. Get over it and move on!

[louiemanno]

No more lawn darts

No more good KFC

No more booze in the bosses office

No more ashtrays

No more plastic bags.

No more IMUS%u2026

Hey want to stitch the divide in this country let%u2019s all get drunk and call each other names and have a good laugh. Let%u2019s lighten up and take the power away from these words. Good people say stupid things all the time. We need to laugh%u2026 Now more then ever!

Louie Manno

[barbarac11]

How ignorant to fire Imus! There are too many thin skinned people who can't take a joke. Comedy IS making fun of people,places,things. Do I get mad over dumb blonde jokes(I am blonde), or Jeff Foxworthy jokes(I married a hillbilly and have hillbilly children)? I am also of Irish descent,but can still laugh over drunken Irishman jokes. Imus is by no means predjudice, and one day one of the people who are condemning him may need to receive some of the services that his charitable work has funded. Look at Don Imus the man as a whole. Nobody with an ounce of intelligence would believe that Imus really believes the girls from Rutgers are prostitutes. I hope he goes back on the air, I will certainly listen to him. I might add, Jesse Jackson is a fine one to talk, where are his morals? He must think having extramarital affairs and *** children make you a better person than a radio shock jock . People should do what I do when I don't like a radio or TV show, TURN IT OFF!

[louiemanno]

The world is suffering from a pandemic of indigence. People seem to get horrified at the drop of a hat. It use to be you actually had to accomplish things to gain social status%u2026 Now all you have to do is pontificate about what disgusts you.

[cfhgeo]

I will miss the Imus show - it livened up the early morning airwaves with a blend of news, satire and witt.

His considerable contributions to broadcasting and special charities over the years more than balance any imagined harm from some poorly chosen words regarding the Rutgers Female Basketball team.

His apologies and suspension from MSNBC were enough punishment.

Once again the gutless Sions of Media rolled over and licked the boot of political pressure groups.

If anything, this circus brings to the fore, the more serious subject of the current plague of coarse and degrading language in the public arena.

Look no farther than the rap lyrics that daily contaminate the airwaves with degrading and dehumanizing language.

I think its safe to say that the detrimental effects of rap on the formation and attitudes of young people is far more potent than the commentary of a long-haired Senior Citizen mumbled on the airwaves at an hour when most young people are still in bed!

Francisco de la Cruz

[tlpatan]

CBS if you let go of IMUS I will do to you what I did to FOX along time ago DELETE that station, and YESTERDAY I DELETED MSNBC. He has appolgised move on. He did not RAPE one of them. ENOUGH is ENOUGH! GET OVER IT! I HAVE THE POWER TO DELETE!

[funnypaysoff]

This an email that I sent to MSNBCI frankly never understood why Imus was on MSNBC in the first place. I am a fan of Imus but never thought it was appropriate for your network. Of course, your network was sucking wind so you put the show on to get your ratings up as well as your ad revenue. Now you cut and run as Imus would say " like the sniveling weasels and empty suits that you are and always will be....your network will continue to be as embarrassing as it was before Imus got there and at some point you will return to this type of programming...because at the end of the day it is all about covering your backside....

I am a professional comedian and I am sincerely disappointed that you did not stand up for a guy that has lined your pockets for a long time... but look on the bright side..more people are probably watching msnbc than ever before....but this will pass like bad gas and then you will lose your self righteousness and probably show the early AM version of Deal or No Deal

Tom Drake

[radioturtle]

CBS can do what they want, but I will not listen to this show, ever. I also support all of the sponsers who are pulling their ads and MSNBC for cancelling the show. These kinds of comments should have consequences and they simply cannot be tolerated anymore. Sorry or not, Imus is guilty of spreading hate and he should be punished.

[dino1967-2009]

Picture this, lights are on, Big AL and jessie are on their way! Social injustice! They must fight for the "LITTLE PEOPLE" I would like to address this to all, but I would like Jwalkerjax to really hear this! You dont want your boy or girl hearing this man! Question is do you or your kids listen to the rhetoric that al or jessie has to say? Scary thing is they call themselves "REVERENDS" lol And all they preach is hate. But even scarier, white people listen! And are to afraid to say anything for fear of "OFFENDING" someone! Scared of riots! hell Rodney king was in L.A. and atlanta and other cities burned,,,and al and jessie were where? In front of the camera, talking ***! Ms. Bradley,,,ring a bell? Fat A** al still hasnt apoligized for that one! But hey, He's a "REVEREND" right? People like al, jessie and those who think like them are the cause of the problems we have in America today! The ones always looking for excuses to explain their Dumb-A** behavior! The ones always looking for the camera.

[biblethump2]

People who call themselves christian, but do not
forgive someone who appoligises, has forgotten
they were forgiven by just asking.
" should you have not shown mercy to you brother,
as I have shown you mercy?"
Do you really want to be put out with the hippricrits?

[mulevalley]

Give me a break. He may think he is a GOOD PERSON but he is a RACIST/SEXIST "good person". He promotes racist language and sexist language and CBS should fire his ***. NOW. What part of that is so hard to understand? Give him a 2 week vacation ? What a Joke. I don't care if he helpled CBS's CEO when he lost a kid and I don't care if he has a ranch for kids with Cancer. It's not relevant. What is relevant is people now think if HE can say it THEY can. Racism begins with Language and ends in Actions.

[mulevalley]

Give me a break. He may think he is a GOOD PERSON but he is a RACIST/SEXIST "good person". He promotes racist language and sexist language and CBS should fire his ***. NOW. What part of that is so hard to understand? Give him a 2 week vacation ? What a Joke. I don't care if he helpled CBS's CEO when he lost a kid and I don't care if he has a ranch for kids with Cancer. It's not relevant. What is relevant is people now think if HE can say it THEY can. Racism begins with Language and ends in Actions.

[mulevalley]

Give me a break. He may think he is a GOOD PERSON but he is a RACIST/SEXIST "good person". He promotes racist language and sexist language and CBS should fire his ***. NOW. What part of that is so hard to understand? Give him a 2 week vacation ? What a Joke. I don't care if he helpled CBS's CEO when he lost a kid and I don't care if he has a ranch for kids with Cancer. It's not relevant. What is relevant is people now think if HE can say it THEY can. Racism begins with Language and ends in Actions.

[mulevalley]

Give me a break. He may think he is a GOOD PERSON but he is a RACIST/SEXIST "good person". He promotes racist language and sexist language and CBS should fire his ***. NOW. What part of that is so hard to understand? Give him a 2 week vacation ? What a Joke. I don't care if he helpled CBS's CEO when he lost a kid and I don't care if he has a ranch for kids with Cancer. It's not relevant. What is relevant is people now think if HE can say it THEY can. Racism begins with Language and ends in Actions.

[avezzoli]

I agree Don Imus should be punished, loose his job for what he said. Just as Jimmie the Greek did and just as Micheal Irvin should have.

[karynr10]

I echo the views of ksj54. I will also stop using Proctor & Gamble, Staples and Bigelow Tea products. I also think that Jackson and Sharpton should concentrate their efforts on protesting these actions from the Hip Hop community. They should also stop being such hipocrites and start practicing what they preach. Why isn't the Rev. Sharpton with the Duke Lacrosse players right now?? Why isn't he asking for justice for the 3 young victims in that case?? Their lives were distroyed for over a year. Rev. Sharpton was their in the beginning he should be their now calling for justice as a true Reverend would!

[jwalkerjax]

You should have FIRE that Don Imus immediately! . What a RUDE, unintelligent thing to say. You should have stood up at the first of this and fired him! Give him the boot! He is to old to learn new things! And this is coming from a mature white family man with 4 kids. I don't want my boy or girl's hearing this man . EVER! How do I screen this kind of stuff! I can't! Fire him, move on!
Johnny Walker