MSNBC Pulls Plug On Don Imus

Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET

MSNBC said Wednesday it will drop its simulcast of the "Imus in the Morning" radio program. The decision comes amid growing outrage about radio host Don Imus' demeaning comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team.

"This decision comes as a result of an ongoing review process, which initially included the announcement of a suspension. It also takes into account many conversations with our own employees," NBC News said in a statement.

The announcement also was made on air.

Imus triggered the uproar on his April 4 show when he referred to the mostly black Rutgers women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos." His comments have been widely denounced by civil rights and women's groups.

CBS Radio issued a statement saying it is sticking to its decision to suspend "Imus in the Morning" for two weeks, reports CBS News correspondent Anthony Mason.

But Bruce Gordon, a director of CBS Corp., and the former head of the NAACP, said Wednesday the broadcasting company needs a "zero tolerance policy" on racism and that Imus should be fired for his remarks.

The program originates from New York radio station WFAN and is syndicated to other radio stations by CBS Radio. Both, like CBSNews.com, are part of CBS Corp.

"He's crossed the line, he's violated our community," Gordon said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "He needs to face the consequence of that violation."

Gordon, a longtime telecommunications executive, stepped down in March after 19 months as head of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, one of the foremost U.S. civil rights organizations.

He said he had spoken with CBS chief executive Leslie Moonves and hoped the company, after reviewing the situation, would "make the smart decision" by firing Imus rather than letting him return to the air at the end of a two-week suspension that was announced Tuesday.

A CBS spokesman, Dana McClintock, declined comment on the remarks by Gordon, who is one of at least two minorities on the 13-member board.

Rutgers women's basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer said Wednesday night she was surprised at MSNBC's announcement, but heartened that the public had reacted so strongly against his comments.

Stringer, though, said the firing would not change plans for the players to meet with Imus in the future to discuss the comments.

"At no time were we trying to make a decision about whether he should be hired or fired," Stringer said in a telephone interview.

MSNBC's decision to drop the simulcast came after a growing list of sponsors — including American Express Co., Staples Inc., Procter & Gamble Co., and General Motors Corp. — said they were pulling ads from Imus' show for the indefinite future.

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Ok, fine. Fire Imus, but your Network (CBS)will be seen as racist if you do not fire the Rap/HipHop garbage artists who demean women and others for money on your programs. Lets be fair, this garbage (Rap/HipHop)is no more free speech than what Imus said. Frankly Imus is just going with the flow of mainstream garbage that is on the airways with the accepted depiction and disrespect in the black culture of the vulgar demeaning of the entire race. And who is Jackson/Sharpton to speak for anyone, I'd rather hear for Bill Cosby. Jackson/Sharpton are money grubbing fools who make money using blacks as victims. Lets educate and move on, stop blacks from treating blacks with such disrespect!

[karenmary3]

Give me a break?

What Don Imus said was not funny, but to loose his job?

We are now in a society of reverse discrimination.

Mr.Imus...On to a Bigger and Better place than CBS

[tcarroll1023]

Public Officials talk openly about assassinating the President, an open act of treason; Rosie O%u2019Donnell continues her rants against America and everything that it stands for; Al Sharpton continues to talk hatred towards America and %u2018the white man%u2019 and invents problems where there are none. Who will force them to step down from their positions for the hatred they preach? Will Mr. Jackson and Sharpton ever apologize to the Duke Lacrosse Players after it was proven that they were Innocent of all charges? If Mr. Imus is being made an example of, will Senator Clinton give back campaign contributions made by record company executives whose clients sing about hatred towards the white man and the African-American woman? One person should not be held to a higher standard while others continue their hatred speech. For Mr. Sharpton, this is only the first step in tearing apart the First Amendment. Why does he get to say whatever he wants to whomever he pleases without consequence, and a radio talk show host says something in bad taste, after years of saying things in extremely poor taste, and he is shown the door with extreme prejudice? Where is the justice? For Mr. Sharpton and Jackson, it is ensuring that radio talk show hosts who understand the First Amendment and Freedom of Speech no longer have a platform.

[gardengirlmo]

I am appalled that Imus has been fired by CBS over his comments. He clearly apologized, right or wrong and that should be the end of it. We live in a country of freedom of speech and are being regulated by more and more all of the time. When will it end. I don't like rap music and what it often stands for and neither do many of my friends, should that be removed if I make a big enough stink and expect and apology because it offends me; or Rosie O'Donnell or Nancy Polosi. Please, this has to stop. I am outraged by what it happening to our country. Please change your mind and do the right thing! Apology accepted and move on.

[duh2me]

If Imus gets fired for his racist comments, tell me why Rush Limbaugh totally gets away with calling Barack Obama a "Half-rican American"???

[ciacciom]

You're a little off here. NBC and CBS executives didn't just wake-up one morning and discover the foul content of the Imus in the morning show. They knew about it for years and were more than willing to tollerate it as long as the advertising dollars kept flowwing in. Both NBC and CBS let Imus stay on with a 2-week suspension unil the "advertisers" and big ones, GM, Amex, etc. started pulling their ads. No money ... no show. It's that simple. As usual. it's not a "black" problem, nor a "white" problem. It's a "green" problem! - mike c ...oh , and by the way, I admire The Rutgers Girls for standing up for themselves. As a matter of fact, I bet they would really feel good about thenselves if they gave back all their scholorship money and paid for their education like I had to!

[classicfem]

Enough with the double standards! Imus was wrong for his comment but he apologized and suspension would have sufficed.
Sharpton and Jackson have never been punished nor have they ever apologized for calling people names and for the violence they bring to our communities! NO MORE!! Call and write congress and the media. Start educating people in your communities. Get all involved!

[slmcc]

By the way, who were the sponsers that pulled out of the Don Imus show? Perhaps they should face a boycott!

[slmcc]

I completely disapprove of his comments. That said I think that more wrong than his comments is the firing! Frankly I am sick and tired of the racist card being played at every opertunity! No, I am not a racist, but the truth is if his comment had resembled any other race hardly anyone would have given it a second thought.
I am deeply disappointed in CBS and MSNBC! Seems we have reached a place where we have placed one race on a pedestle simply because of thier color. Take a black man and a white man and the black man will almost always get preference no maatter what the other circumstances are. That is not right.
Don Imus has admitted his wrong, and apologized profusely. Where is the forgiveness? And who amoung us is perfect and has never mad a mistake or do we now think we are good enough to judge who is worthy of forgiveness?
I wonder, what would happen if we had a White entertainment channel.....

[pgm187]

Boycott CBS and their sponsors.