Imus Off The Air For Two Weeks

Radio shock jock Don Imus was suspended for two weeks by CBS, which owns WFAN and Westwood One (the radio outlets his show is broadcast and syndicated on) and MSNBC, which broadcasts a televised simulcast of the radio show, over remarks he made towards the Rutgers women's basketball team. MSNBC announced that Imus would be suspended first, then CBS announced a similar suspension.

The suspension will begin on Monday, as Imus has a series of fund-raisers for sudden infant death syndrome at the end of the week. This morning, he said his suspension was "appropriate" and he told Matt Lauer on the Today Show, "'[the phrase "nappy-headed hos] phrase originated in the black community. ... I may be a white man, but I know that these young women and young black women all through that society are demeaned and degraded by their own black men and that they are called that name.'' And while Imus has made it clear he'd like to speak to the Rutgers women's basketball players himself, it's unclear whether they'll meet. The team will be giving a press conference this morning at 11AM.

Yesterday, Imus appeared on the Reverend Al Sharpton's radio show to discuss the matter, admitting that he did go too far. Sharpton told reporters, "If he came to convince me, he certainly didn't convince me. I think he might have made it worse." How did he make it worse? From AP/AMNY:

The radio host also lost his patience after U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-Michigan), the head of the Congressional Black Caucus, called in and criticized him for his on-air comments after the Rutgers team lost the NCAA women's championship game a week ago.

"I can't get anywhere with you people," Imus complained, as everyone in the studio froze at what seemed to be another racial slight.

"What do you mean by 'you people?' " Sharpton shot back.

"You and the woman I'm talking to," Imus explained.

Afterward, Sharpton said these two responses were examples of how the appearance may not have helped Imus' image. "I couldn't believe when he went to 'you people,' " Sharpton said.

You can hear the audio of the show on WNBC.com - you'll note how Imus calls Sharpton "sir."

The Post's Phil Mushnick says that Imus's behavior is nothing new - when WNBC sportscaster Len Berman quit WFAN, Imus called him "Lenny the Jew." Gwen Ifill, who Imus allegedly called a "cleaning lady," has an editorial in the NY Times: "This country will only flourish once we consistently learn to applaud and encourage the young people who have to work harder just to achieve balance on the unequal playing field." Ethicist Randy Cohen tells WCBS 2/AP that Imus should be fired

And longtime Imus hater Howard Stern told his listeners yesterday that back in the WNBC days (dubba-yuh- enn- bee-cee!) he heard Imus call a black woman the n-word. According to MarksFriggin.com, the Howard Stern rundown blog, Stern said Imus's remarks about the Rutgers women's basketball team "actually nothing compared to what he said behind the scenes at WNBC when they were there." Stern said Imus should have been fired back in the day.

What do you think of the suspension? Is it an appropriate sentence, or should he have been fired? NOW is asking join its campaign to get Imus fired and here's the National Association of Black Journalist's list of Imus's racist remarks.

Update:
Rutgers is having a press conference on the Imus issue.

Some notes so far:
Rutgers AD Bob Mulcahy: The comments by Imus and his producer were despicable and the real story here is the 2006-07 Women's Basketball team. The team is the antithesis of Imus' comments and the comments were reprehensible and disgusting.

Rutgers President Richard McCormick: Imus' words were hurtful to all of the Rutgers community as they were celebrating their basketball team and their season and they did nothing to invite the comments by Imus. As a community, they are supporting players as a community and the university has "their backs."

Coach C. Vivian Stringer: The players involved in this are valedictorians, future doctors, even girl scouts and Rutgers is fortunate to have them. This isn't a story about what was said, but about the team's perseverance, hard work, and determination. The remarks were deplorable, despicable and unconscionable. These women are not political figures or professionals, but at Rutgers to get an education and to use their gifts.

Heather Zurich, sophomore forward from Montvale: Team started at 2-4, with Coach Stringer calling them her worst defensive team ever. All the teams accomplishments were lost when Imus made his comments. What hurts the most is that he doesn't know any of them personally. They were insulted and angry and they said they did nothing to deserve the "deplorable comments". Instead of celebrating Easter, they were talking about this with their families.

Essence Carson, junior, forward/guard, captain from Patterson The team is angry, disgusted, and deeply saddened at the racial characterization by the Imus remarks. She asks that people don't recognize them in this light, but in the light of their season accomplishments. The team has agreed to a private meeting with Imus in an undisclosed location to convey their deep hurt. This issue is about women across the nation and the world. They aren't attacking Imus, but something that isn't right.

Photographs of Don Imus and Reverand Al Sharpton yesterday by Richard Drew/AP

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in Arts & Entertainment on April 10, 2007 9:14 AM

Comments [rss]

squidfly

Stewart you see race in everything, they were just being professional, obviously they saw you with that look of "NIGGER!!" In your eyes, Black folks see things. You ever heard the phrase "I SEE WHITE PEOPLE?'

stewart

I experience racism everytime I go to the post office and the black employees go above and beyond for the black man in front of me in line and then make me wait and give me sub-standard service when it's finally my turn.

If a black man called the basketball teams names they would simpy give him a Grammy and call him an artist.

squidfly

70 your white so you no authority on the subject of who is or isn't a racsit, leave it to the people with experience.

mike c

Michael Irvin made some serious racial comments about current Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and his great great grand mother.

So did the media flinch. Was Irvin's comments brought up on national news. Was it a huuuge news story like Don Imus, Kramer from Seinfeld or Mel Gibson? No. You never heard of it and 99% of America didn't either. I happened to read it on an obscure football website.

So what is any different than what Kramer or Imus or Mel Gibson said than what Michael Irvin said? All comments would be considered racist or stereotypical. All of the comments except one made national news headlines. All comments except one resulted in a firing or public backlash (ie people boycotting Kramer or Mel Gibson's media vehicles). All except one was beat to death on "The View" by rosie and the other ladies.

So why were Michael Irvin's comments not in the spotlight? Why was he not pulled through the mud by the American media? If all the instances listed above are deemed racist or stereotypical, why was one person given a free pass and the others left to roast under the intense heat of media scrutiny?

It just so happens that Michael Irvin is black and all the other Racists I listed above are of some Caucasian lineage. Coincidence that the American media did not throw the black man under the bus with the rest of the racist crew? Absolutely not. The American media had full and aware knowledge of Michael Irvin's comments just as they did with all of the other major racism scandals in the last year or so. Why not give the black man the same treatment as anyone else in that position? THAT IS THE QUESTION.

Why is it that when a white man says something negative/racist it's in the national media but when a black man says something racist it goes on page 36 of the newspaper next to an ad for carpet cleaning service?

The American Media is "Racist About Racism" (I just coined that phrase).

To wrap up, I agree with all your points about Imus, he probably should have been fired and it really was not an intelligent thing to say even in a joking context. But in the grand scheme of things does it really matter. Did it really hurt anyone? The Rutgers Womens bball team accepted Imus' apology, and did they really care what some old fart said about them?

I don't have all the answers, but I do know that the American media focuses more on white racists than any other color racist. And if I had to say, that is Racist in and of itself.

note(Michael Irvin was not fired from his job. However, his contract was up a couple of months after his comments and was not renewed by ESPN. The fact that Irvin was caught with a marajuana pipe in his car a year earlier probably helped the case not to renew his contract as well as the comments.)

squidfly

[68] Posted by: double standard | April 12, 2007 1:20 AM

oh shut up your so last century. Tsnumai Song waa waa, they were white people who wrote that song, white people who produced it.

Shut Up! Defending Imus...shut up.

double standard

Let me first preface this comment by saying how sorry I feel for Rutger's Women's Basketball Team. They have been caught in the middle of a political and publicity fueled battle storm. It is a shame that their great achievements have been overshadowed with this nonsense.

Imus' comments were racist and sexist. However I commend him on his public apology and his appearance on Al Sharpton's own radio show to discuss his offensive comments.

However, I am left to wonder why these recent comments have caused this huge uproar as opposed to the countless other times that this "Shock Jock" has made some not-so-PC comments?

If these public advocates, the show sponsors, and the networks are so opposed to racism shouldn't they have dumped Imus' show long ago?

And where were these disgruntled sponsors when the highly disturbing "Tsunami Song" was played on Hot 97 countless times? Shouldn't Carlos Mencia's show on Comedy Central be banned for he's racial derogatory overtones? (Or is that categorized as "comedy?")

Apparently, as long as you are not African-American, you better have a sense of humor because a racist comment in the media should be considered "just a joke"; as you won't have political advocates like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson sticking up for you in your corner!

Backwoodsmadam

Al Sharpton is just about the LAST person I would want to speak on my behalf. It just seems that some people just sit back and wait for someone else to fall so they can rub salt in the wounds and point giant fingers of blame. If Al didn't have these kind of Imus events to scream about, the man would have no exposure whatsoever. He's guilty of the same kind of racist behavoir. He gets so much news coverage whenever he opens his big mouth. What good has he ever done? He's suppose to be a minister, yet can't accept an apology and be forgiving. Well, Rev. Al, being Christian doesn't mean you're perfect. . . just forgiven. You're such a big phoney.

squidfly

[63] Posted by: russ | April 10, 2007 11:38 PM

and your point is?

Ahhh white people, they want their skin privelege and racsim too.

proctor and gamble people

Procter and Gamble, Staples and Bigelow Tea withdrew advertising from his show.

let me say that again, Procter and Gamble, this is not a vermont teddy bear or zone chef account. this is big.

now what are you gonna do? boycott PG? I say HA!

revolution time.

ginger baker

i kind of like sharpton generally BUT he does come off looking like a crybaby here. What Imus said was certainly offensive but not illegal nor should it be illegal. His reference was crude, offensive, and racist but...my god, there is so much else going on in the world a lot worse! Al just looks like he wants to score some cheap political points...it was stupid to say yet it was said only once, it wasn't a prolonged rant (a la kramer)...get over it people.

russ

So as many of you now know...

Don Imus called the Rutgers Girls Basketball team some mean, racist names on his radio show.

I don't listen to Imus, but that is what happened, I heard the recording as many of you did.

Imus is a dork. I guess he's a racist too.

Guess what folks?

Its not illegal to be a racist.

Now all this brouhaha.

Imus is suspended for 2 weeks, and many are calling for him to be fired from his job.

Then Imus went on Al Sharpton's radio show and demanded an apology, and Imus gave him one.

I have many problems with this.

#1, I am no fan of Imus.

What he said was offensive to some, but its his RIGHT to say what he wants.

If he wants to be, or sound racist, thats HIS RIGHT to do so.

If you don't like what he says, write a letter condemning him.

Change the channel.

Write to the FCC.

But demand he be fired?

These Politically Correct Motherfuckers, shut the fuck up already.

Wa wa wa, you big crybabies.

Get a life!

And Al Sharpton?!?!? He's one of the biggest racists alive today!!!!

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!!!

Does anyone remember the Tawana Brawley Scandal in the late 1980s?

How about Steven Pagones, the prosecutor whose life Sharpton ruined?

How about Freddy's Fashion Mart in Harlem and Sharton's "WHITE INTERLOPERS"

comment in the 1980s?

How DARE Al Sharpton accuse Don Imus of being a racist and demand he be fired,

when Sharpton himself has been doing the EXACT same thing for decades.

In my opinion, anyone who follows Sharpton is either blind to his past dealings, or is just plain ignorant.

How can ANYONE take Sharpton seriously and turn the cheek to his past?

I don't see how anyone can get behind him,

when he has all that blood on his hands from his own scandalous and sordid past!

We have American troops over in Iraq dying everyday, yet everytime some stupid celebrity

says something politically incorrect...THAT becomes the front page news.

The American media is COMPLETELY FUCKED UP, and their priorities are in the toilet.

Don Imus should NOT be fired.

He has made his bed, now he must lie in it.

If they are going to end Imus' career, then be fair and end Sharpton's too.

They are both equally racist.

(Russ steps off soapbox.)

nineteen sixty

I never knew "white man" was a racial insult.

if so, that's the first time I heard of it. funny how you use the moniker JP Lynch.

How serious should I take your comments, JP Lynch.

the thousand years is over, sir. I hope your first born is OK. One in 166. remember.

Jo

Well that's rather sexist - I'm a guy with an effiminate first name.

I found my info on his contributions by looking at the foundation websites for the Imus Ranch, the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, the CJ Foundation for SIDS, Charity Navigator, and various articles. It's all in the public domain. Let the reader decide.

well then

Well then, maybe he can start a Scholarship fund now.

But I doubt it. My facts are straight, ma'am.

Jo

Imus contributed over $1MM of his own money for the ranch before he ask anyone for a dime.

He gave $300K himself for the veterans facility.

The WFAN radiothon has raised over $30MM for the CJ Foundation for SIDS since 1990.

That's fine if you want to trash him over what he said, he deserves it. But get your facts straight before you throw him under the bus for his charitable work.

Jo

Imus contributed over $1MM of his own money for the ranch before he ask anyone for a dime:

www.americanprofile.com/articl...

He gave $300K himself for the veterans facility:

www.fallenheroesfund.org/falle...

The WFAN radiothon has raised over $30MM for the CJ Foundation for SIDS since 1990.

That's fine if you want to trash him over what he said, he deserves it. But get your facts straight before you throw him under the bus for his charitable work.

rob meldahl

His charities are with other peoples money. He lives well on a ranch that costs over $3,000 a night for each child. It is easy for some white guy to say "the good outweighs the bad." Imus and his crew have been stereotyping black people for years. It is about time Jeep-Chrysler and other sponsors come to answer for their sponsorship of this old hate-filled bigot.

ive heard otherwise

I dunno, I've heard otherwise regarding his "Ranch" and charitible pursuits.

Very little is his money. He browbeats people to contributing.

Doc

I have been an Imus fan for years... I think Craig Crawford said it best, he has a heart bigger than his mouth! I am the father of an autistic child and I can't begin to tell you how he has supported that community, not to mention kids with cancer and sudden infant death syndrome. He speaks without thinking sometimes, but he ALWAYS admits when he has made a mistake. I could go on....the good far out weighs the bad.

rob meldahl

What do the mistakes of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton have to do with the disgraceful behavior of Imus. Think about the five young ladies who worked hard to achieve a level of excellance in their sport. Think of their families and the pride those families had for their daughters. Imus is a pig and WFAN and MSNBC should be held responsible for giving him a forum that he does not deserve to have.