Opinions Continue to Fly in Imus-Remarks Incident

This morning, NBC News President Steve Capus appeared on the Today show to discuss the immediate ending of radio shock jock Don Imus's MSNBC simulcast. Per TVNewser, Capus said:

There's no question that his program has had provocative conversation and interesting conversation, deep conversation with thought leaders and political leaders through the years. But it's also had the other element. At some point you have to say 'enough is enough.' This went so far over the line that it was time.

Capus also mentioned the most vocal critics he heard from were from NBC itself and said "why have an integrity policy unless you're going to enforce it?" The NBC News chief has denied that the reason for the firing was because advertisers were fleeing, which we sort of buy - given that the show made $50 million in revenue, you could probably find some less prestigious advertisers to fill the ad time. FishbowlDC has been liveblogging Imus's radio show this morning, and Imus talks about hyprocrisy, MSNBC being unethical, and a lack of support from Harold Ford Jr.

On the media circuit: The Reverend Al Sharpton also appeared on the Today show to discuss the firing. Last night, he and Reverend Jesse Jackson gave a press conference at Rockefeller Center outside the NBC offices last night, and Jackson appeared on Keith Olbermann's MSNBC program. (Olbermann made it clear that his bosses told him not to comment until NBC made a decision, and he emphasized how he thought Imus's remarks were out of line.)

And yesterday, before the firing, Al Roker, whose blog entry asking that Imus be fired received a lot of attention, interviewed Whoopi Goldberg and Spike Lee, who quipped that Imus should get the film right (Imus mistakenly referred to Do the Right Thing, not School Daze, when saying "jigaboos"). Goldberg said that culture made hatred and put-downs more mainstream while Lee emphasized Imus had to go. Lee also applauded the advertisers who dropped out from Imus's show, saying he would buy $100 at Home Depot, buy Bigelow Tea, and Proctor & Gamble products.

In the expected ironic twist, Imus's ratings are very high after this incident. The NY Times spoke to Bo Dietl, "security expert who is a frequent guest on Mr. Imus’s show," who said that Imus was “very down, very upset about what occurred with MSNBC.” CBS says they will keep Imus's show, but one CBS board member, Bruce Gordon who is also former president of the NAACP, has asked that Imus be fired. If Imus is fired from CBS's WFAN, rumors are the Mike and the Mad Dog would move to the Imus slot.

Top photograph of the Reverends Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton at a Rockefeller Center press conference discussing Imus's firing last night by Amit Gupta on Flickr; lower photograph of Al Roker, Spike Lee and Whoopi Goldberg by Richard Drew/AP

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By Jen Chung in Arts & Entertainment on April 12, 2007 11:42 AM

Comments [rss]

nappyheadedho

no doubt that imus should have been fired but sharpton, jackson and company are shit slinging hypocrites.

Still Not Amused

I remember a time when Whoopi Goldberg supported her good friend Ted Danson did the black face routine . With that said who is she to criticize "Anus" for his egregious comments? It also comes to mind that "Whoopi Goldberg" is not her real name . She was born " Karen Johnson" If I'm not mistaken . Some of you may ask 'What does her real name have to do with my comment' ? If this person was such a high standing member of society then why did she change her name in the first place ? Seems a bit shallow to me, Anyway "Whoopi" has no right to criticize anyone not with her past ! Spike's comments were based on what "Anus" said, Yes he's wrong if he used any commercial "Pull" that he might have too oust "Anus" . It's his opinion to make a comment and he did by blasting this guy .

thewrastler

This is a joke in so many ways. It's all about hypocrites, those exploiting the situation and now we see the cowards finally appear. Things will not get any better because of this and that's the biggest joke. Tomorrow I will make a contribution to the Radiothon in support of the cause and for support of Don. If you are behind him, do the same at WFAN.com.

smedley

imus for president

pro ceebee es

Thank YOU Les Moonves. Very classy move.

Very fitting of the Tiffany network. I wouldn't worry about the radiothon, racists will flock to it to show their support.

However, the GOOD people will contribute Millions to it for charity and not in support of Imus.

See who are the major contributors to the charities and you'll see they contribute more than the entire radiothon.

Thank YOU CBS.

hellloooooo everybody

CBS announced they will not be carrying the Imus show. He's outta here. Take that Chris Russo.

Perhaps this is a start for real change. No more ranting and raving radio.

Everyone is now on notice, whether you're the morning Zoo or Hot 97. This stuff has got to stop.

Maeve

Well, CBS has pulled the plug. Imus fired and not even allowed to continue his radio-thon - the reason they didn't suspend him immediately to begin with.

Say whatever you will about the man, but that's a classless move on CBS's part. CBS to cancer, SIDS and blood-diseased children: Drop Dead.

Nice.

Sick of Double Standards

I'm just waiting for the day for Sharpton to have the balls to stand up against blacks that have no problem demeaning themselves and their race. He's a damn hypocrite.

I'm scared now

You can think whatever you want to think you race baiter. Look within yourself.

Only God can judge. Only the Lord can judge you in the end. The Lord loves all, saints and sinners but it is he who will judge in the end.

But if there's nothing there, The Lord will not even consider you. but he will because he died for your sins.

WTF?!?!?!?

da lords law

exactly, steve pagones has a lot of repenting to do.

He too, should follow the gospel.

adam

and thank god for wikipedia lest we forget all of these details!

Theodore

When's the last time Sharpton or the "Reverend" apologized for anything? Tawana Browley anyone? Haven't heard of a big apology for running Steve Pagones' name through the mud.

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

sharpton is a fool

Imus should have questioned Al about his referrring to Jews as "Diamond Merchants" during the crown heights riot

cinderella sin

You can think whatever you want to think you race baiter. Look within yourself.

Only God can judge. Only the Lord can judge you in the end. The Lord loves all, saints and sinners but it is he who will judge in the end.

But if there's nothing there, The Lord will not even consider you. but he will because he died for your sins.

race baiting

How some people are so cold hearted, bitter and vindictive. It never ends will it?

By that I hope you're talking about Sharpton and Jackson because I haven't read a single racist comment here. Nor has anyone defended Imus.

on notice road

I too am concerned. Hopefully this puts all on NOTICE.

that means you, Mike and the Mad dog racists.

Chris russo, you're on notice. You won't cross the line soon but someday you will. with all your frothing a slip of the tongue will get you. You're low class just like all of your LI inhabitants with your racist redlining policies.

The only Pro who knows this game is Howard stern, love him or hate him, he himself admitts he knows how not to cross the line. that's why he gloats when Imus is in trouble.

concerned

It's about freaking time. I hope all entertainers will now be held accountable for their hate speech.

Chris Rock, Dave Chapelle, Paul Mooney, Wanda Sikes, Carlos Mencia, Steve Harvey, everyone on Def Comedy Jam or Kings of Comedy new show, Mos Def, Snoop Dog and so on, YOU'RE NEXT!!!

gary

I have watched IMUS for years and he is very entertaining... But he is an egomaniac who should be canceled. Not for what happened with the " nappy headed ho's" comment but for his higher then thou attitude about his so called charity "the IMUS tax deductible vacation ranch". He uses 80 child cancer patients at a cost of $3 million/year to justify a 4,000 acre IMUS disneyland for him, his wife and his son that he constantly glorifies. This translates to $37,500 for each week a cancer patient spends at his vacation home. Would the child be better served with getting the money for treatment or research for a cure????

In 2005 the state of New Mexico tried to go after him for his miss use of charity money and tax fruad. IMUS used his media STICK to stop the investigtion.

My hope is that he is weak enough to attack and he will finlly be caught in this theft of US tax dollars.

ed_Extinct

"nappy headed hos" is not racist—even a little bit. At best it's insensitive...

Al Sharpton and his racist cronies (Alton H. Maddox* and C. Vernon Mason*) ruined a man's life over a false crime. does anyone rememeber Tawana Brawley? Sharpton still has yet to apologize for his racist tirades and false accusations without a shred of evidence against Steven Pagones.

*C. Vernon Mason is a lawyer who was disbarred following his involvement in the Tawana Brawley hoax.

*Alton H. Maddox, Jr. is a lawyer who was disbarred following his involvement in the Tawana Brawley hoax.

Here's something racist Shartpton said recently about Barack Obama: "Obama never did anything for the community, never worked with anybody from the community, nobody knows the people around him, he's a candidate driven by white leadership."

"Driven by White Leadership"

Sharpton needs to admit his racially motivated bullshit and stop harrassing and slandering people.

there you have it

Just goes to show you how divisive some people are in America. nuff said.

How some people are so cold hearted, bitter and vindictive. It never ends will it?

From the creation of said country and prior to it, this country was all about division.