Maldev Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 CBS fires Don Imus from radio show By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer 39 minutes ago NEW YORK - CBS fired Don Imus from his radio program Thursday, the finale to a stunning fall for one of the nation's most prominent broadcasters. ADVERTISEMENT Imus initially was given a two-week suspension for calling the Rutgers women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos" on the air last week, but outrage continued to grow and advertisers bolted from his CBS radio show and its MSNBC simulcast. "There has been much discussion of the effect language like this has on our young people, particularly young women of color trying to make their way in this society," CBS President and Chief Executive Officer Leslie Moonves said in announcing the decision. "That consideration has weighed most heavily on our minds as we made our decision." Rutgers women's basketball team spokeswoman Stacey Brann said the team did not have an immediate comment on Imus' firing. Time Magazine once named the cantankerous broadcaster as one of the 25 Most Influential People in America, and he was a member of the National Broadcaster Hall of Fame. But Imus found himself at the center of a storm as protests intensified. On Wednesday, MSNBC dropped the simulcast of Imus' show. Losing Imus will be a financial hit to CBS Radio, which also suffered when Howard Stern departed for satellite radio. The program is worth about $15 million in annual revenue to CBS, which owns Imus' home radio station WFAN-AM and manages Westwood One, the company that syndicates the show across the country. The Rev. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson met with Moonves on Thursday to demand Imus' removal, promising a rally outside CBS headquarters Saturday and an effort to persuade more advertisers to abandon Imus. Sumner Redstone, chairman of the CBS Corp. board and its chief stockholder, told Newsweek that he had expected Moonves to "do the right thing," although it wasn't clear what he thought that was. The news came down in the middle of Imus' Radiothon, which has raised more than $40 million since 1990. The Radiothon had raised more than $1.3 million Thursday before Imus learned that he lost his job. "This may be our last Radiothon, so we need to raise about $100 million," Imus cracked at the start of the event. Volunteers were getting about 200 more pledges per hour than they did last year, with most callers expressing support for Imus, said Tony Gonzalez, supervisor of the Radiothon phone bank. The event benefited Tomorrows Children's Fund, the CJ Foundation for SIDS and the Imus Ranch. Imus, whose suspension was supposed to start next week, was in the awkward situation of broadcasting Thursday's radio program from the MSNBC studios in New Jersey, even though NBC News said the night before that MSNBC would no longer simulcast his program on television. He didn't attack MSNBC for its decision — "I understand the pressure they were under," he said — but complained the network was doing some unethical things during the broadcast. He didn't elaborate. He acknowledged again that his comments about the Rutgers women's basketball players a day after they had competed in the NCAA championship game had been "really stupid." He said he had apologized enough and wasn't going to whine about his fate. Sharpton and Jackson emerged from a meeting with Moonves saying the corporate chief had promised to consider their requests. "It's not about taking Imus down," Sharpton said. "It's about lifting decency up." Sheila Johnson, owner of the WNBA's Washington Mystics and, with her ex-husband Robert, co-founder of BET, called Imus' comments reprehensible in an interview with The Associated Press. She said she had called Moonves to urge that CBS cut all ties with the veteran radio star, and was worried that what he said could hurt women's sports. "I think what Imus has done has put a cloud over what we've tried to do in promoting women's athletics," she said. Several sponsors, including American Express Co., Sprint Nextel Corp., Staples Inc., Procter & Gamble Co., and General Motors Corp., have said they were pulling ads from Imus' show indefinitely. Imus made a point Thursday to thank one sponsor, Bigelow Tea, for sticking by him. The list of his potential guests began to shrink, too. Newsweek Editor Jon Meacham said the magazine's staffers would no longer appear on Imus' show. Meacham, Jonathan Alter, Evan Thomas, Howard Fineman and Michael Isikoff from Newsweek have been frequent guests. Imus has complained bitterly about a lack of support from one black politician, Harold Ford Jr., even though he strongly backed Ford's campaign for Senate in Tennessee last year. Ford, now head of the Democratic Leadership Council, said Thursday he'll leave it to others to decide Imus' future. "I don't want to be viewed as piling on right now because Don Imus is a good friend and a decent man," Ford said. "However, he did a reprehensible thing." Imus' troubles have also affected his wife, author Deirdre Imus, whose household cleaning guide, "Green This!" came out this week. Her promotional tour has been called off "because of the enormous pressure that Deirdre and her family are under," said Simon & Schuster publicist Victoria Meyer. People are buying it, though: An original printing of 45,000 was increased to 55,000. Imus still has a lot of support among radio managers across the country, many of whom grew up listening to him, said Tom Taylor, editor of the trade publication Inside Radio. Yet he's clearly became a political liability for a major corporation — CBS. (General Electric Co. owns NBC Universal, of which MSNBC is a part.) NBC News said anger about Imus among some of its employees had as much to do with ending the MSNBC simulcast as the advertiser defection. Bryan Monroe, president of the National Association of Black Journalists and vice president and editor director of Ebony and Jet magazines, met with Moonves on Wednesday. It seemed clear Moonves and his aides were struggling with a difficult decision, he said. He urged them to take advantage of an opportunity to take a stand against the coarsening of culture. "Something happened in the last week around America," Monroe said. "It's not just what the radio host did. America said enough is enough. America said we don't want this kind of conversation, we don't want this kind of vitriol, especially with teenagers." Rutgers' team, meanwhile, appeared Thursday on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" with their coach, C. Vivian Stringer. At the end of their appearance, Winfrey said: "I want to borrow a line from Maya Angelou, who is a personal mentor of mine and I know you all also feel the same way about her. And she has said this many times, and I say this to you, on behalf of myself and every woman that I know, you make me proud to spell my name W-O-M-A-N. You've really handled this beautifully." Imus said earlier Thursday he still wants to meet with the team. "At some point, I'm not sure when, I'm going to talk to the team," he said. "That's all I'm interested in doing." Rev. DeForest Soaries, who is Stringer's pastor and has been helping negotiate the terms of the meeting with Imus, said he had not yet talked with Imus or coach Stringer but said: "Right now, as far as I know, the meeting is still on." Soaries said the fact that Imus was off the air on both MSNBC and CBS took some pressure off of the upcoming meeting with the Rutgers women. "This removes the burden from Rutgers women to determine the status of Imus' employment," Soaries said in a telephone interview. ___ Associated Press correspondents Karen Matthews, Warren Levinson, Seth Sutel, Tara Burghart and Hillel Italie contributed to this report. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedWazoo Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Im selling my GMC van! I hope that they find a way to keep his charities going, a lot of people were helped by his efforts...people of all races. That was sure swept away quickley by some, but not those who donated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 The Rev. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson met with Moonves on Thursday to demand Imus' removal, promising a rally outside CBS headquarters Saturday and an effort to persuade more advertisers to abandon Imus. Extortion works, boys and girls.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maldev Posted April 12, 2007 Author Share Posted April 12, 2007 I would have let them rally and given everyone Saturday off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indian T Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Hmmmmm.... Now that Imus has been "liberated", maybe he'll tell us what he really thinks about what happened to him. I don't listen to the guy, but I'm sure the real debate is just about to get started. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charger Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Hmmmmm....Now that Imus has been "liberated", maybe he'll tell us what he really thinks about what happened to him. I don't listen to the guy, but I'm sure the real debate is just about to get started. I see satalite Radio.....rht next to howard....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indian T Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 I see satalite Radio.....rht next to howard....... I don't see that (yet). The two big satalite co.'s are merging and I don't think they want an issue like this fucking things up. He'll probably get picked up by an unaffilliated, small-time, radio station in N.Y. that needs some recognition or at least a recognizable personality to get themselves on the radar screen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uplander Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 Daummmm I remem,ber during the 80's when I was staioned in Connecticut and always listened to Imus in the morning and Howard Stern in the afternoon. They were always fighting! LOL Still have listened to both for many years. Hell I remember when Ol Howard was in detroit early in his career! Well I sure hope Imus is back on somewhere! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Potter Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 Last I heard Howard signed a $500M deal. Maybe Imus just got a raise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micmac Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 Anybody remember this crazy fuck? I think Imus was wrong to charecterize those particular women as "ho's" He apoligised. What bothered me I guess is if he called Paris Hilton, or Brittney Spears "ho's" would have the Reverend Sharpton & Jessie "Hymietown" Jackson stepped up? No. If I was black I would be angry at these two assholes getting rich off me. They proport to speak for every single person in this country of African American descent and have made quite a bit of money doing it. They sieze the cause "de jour" get on tv, extort the proper folks and move on and most likely never contact the affected folks again. I have watched Rev. Sharpton step up to the plate with O'Riely and give him Kudos for that, that takes balls, but again, his mug is on tv. I believe those young ladies could've handled this w/out them two guys. Imus has done alot of good things, all for naught when you say things like that in public. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 "Fish Heads, Fish Heads, Roly-poly Fish Heads, Fish Heads, Fish Heads, Eat them up, YUM!!" Gotta love the Good Dr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micmac Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 Correctamundeo! Dr. "The Cockroach that ate Cinncinati" Demento! CRAZY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottdog Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 Stern must be ROTFL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Last Resort Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 Dead puppies Dead puppies Dead puppies aren't much fun They don't come when you call They don't chase squirrels at all Dead puppies aren't much fun My puppy died late last fall He's still rotting in the hall Dead puppies aren't much fun Mom says puppy's days are through She's gonna throw him in the stew Dead puppies aren't much fun Dead puppies Dead puppies Dead puppies aren't much fun Dead puppies Dead puppies Dead puppies aren't much fun Dead puppies Dead puppies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cherokee Chief Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 Wind up your radios it's the Dr. Demento show Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charger Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 ABC did a poll....n @ 2 to1 the public thinks Imus shouldn't have been fired...n they're concerned about the double standard b & w........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 Something else to think about: Today, Imus. Who tomorrow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paolabob Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 Don't get me wrong I think what the man said was wrong but it's also wrong for anyone to say including these racist rap artists but where is the ACLU in all this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 Imus had a contract. Dollars to donuts sez they could fire him for cause and this meets whatever standard of cause they wrote in. So ACLU isn't gonna jump on accounta this is a employment termination issue. He was legallly fired. Hell, where the farts and arses are concerned yesterday might be yer last day everyday. Pop all unglued that it ever come to this. The right to speech problem is that businesses pulled they accounts because of the perception that the whole of America would go nuclear. Then, in what sure smells of a self fulfilling prophecy, the networks talked it all up. The networks who not coincidentally rely on the advertisers for they bacon. So, the adveritisers are all up in fire his lily white ass to the networks who are crucifyin the motherfucker. The networks are cowards for cowtowin to Madison Avenue. These are the kinda scum who sit in uptown hotel lounges with exposed ductwork and stainless steel furniture and connive to control the thinkin of the rest of us. Because they so sensitive, they think that the rest of us ought to be. Man, whenever Pop is king, first it's Madison avenue, then it's the lawyers. Never thought I would be givin the lawyers a break, but there ya go. I am growing. The networks are sayin they own peeps made em dump Imus. That he were a embarassment. Apparently these geniuses ain't been payin any attention to the shows they networks are broadcastin. A few hours sittin through prime time should clue in any dunce that Imus is no more a embarassment to America than the slop they ladel out to us cattle. Let's review tonights fine lineup, shall we? First NBC the original network that wuz so embarrassed of Imus that they dumped his TV side. 8PM- Identity, friggin game show wherin Penn Gilette totally sells out. 9PM- Raines, friggin detective show where Jeff Goldblum totally sells out. Bein as I'll never bother with this drivel let's get a preview of tonights episode, shall we? "Raines uncovers a web of lies when a friend's wife is found murdered with an Aryan Nation insignia inscribed on her chest." Boy, I am impressed. Talk about original must see programming. What's the capper? 10PM- Law and Order- friggin lawyer show where Sam Waterston sold out 1 zillion years ago. I quit watchin primetime when TV's were steam powered and he wuz doin that show then. This kind of shit they hold up to America as valuable entertainment and they fire a guy that calls 'em as he sees 'em. Fuck NBC, Fuck CBS. I got a good deal for 'em. They don't need Pop and Pop don't need them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maldev Posted April 13, 2007 Author Share Posted April 13, 2007 Imus had a contract. Dollars to donuts sez they could fire him for cause and this meets whatever standard of cause they wrote in. So ACLU isn't gonna jump on accounta this is a employment termination issue. He was legallly fired. Hell, where the farts and arses are concerned yesterday might be yer last day everyday. The facts have never stopped the ACLU from getting involved in the past. Why would you think they'd up their standards now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homer Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 fuck 'em...he should have gotten fired... if he's one of the 25 most influential people he should be held to a higher standard... it's the blanket, broad stroke statement that was wrong, and in the public arena made it even "wronger".... plus, i looked at them chicks..and i didn't see any nappy heads...now i can't speak for their ho'ness, cuz i can't see that over the tv. any of us talking amongst ourselves in jest or even in seriouness--no big deal..but in that arena--huge deal... i can be as chauvanistic, woman hating, chinese and german watching as any mofo there is..but i know the time and place to be those ways.... but i digress... if it's alright for Imus to say/do whatever he wants, it's alright for anyone in that position...and that ain't right. don't get me wrong..as i said, i feel the same way about rappers, nazi rockers, etc... what a waste of a captive audience. they can say what they want, but i ain't gotta like it. but i don't gotta buy their stuff--and for the most part i don't. i didn't listen to Imus, and i woulda not listened even more post statement. and if i perceived the networks inaction as support, maybe i woulda acted out..maybe not.. maybe the networks could have started with an admonishment, suspension, etc, like they were, and maybe that woulda sufficed...but Imus' minimization of the whole thing was wrong. made me think--"well maybe he really does think like that about those chicks that he knows nothing about,"...and if so, maybe he thinks like that about anyone not like him....and then, maybe he thinks like that about me..whom he also knows nothing about....so in that aspect, it was more personal for me...but i woulda not lost any sleep over it..cuz i could give a fuck about what anyone thinks about me...but i could wish them fuckers ill will...and getting canned is in some way ill will...but if his charities were as big as some claim, maybe he could have appropiated some of those monies for a "nappy headed" charity, and that woulda sufficed too... maybe there were other appropriate answers, and meeting with that team an apologizing is a big step. and if i were on that team and i thought he were sincere, i'd say "put the fucker back on the air" and move on with life... but that's just me...and if me and Pop ruled the world--it would be a much better place.. eric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedWazoo Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 When your title beginns wit ..REV ...(like the 2 hippocrits that buried Imus)...Their lord says to forgive, mine does too . I guess the GLOVE FIT in this situation...moron sheep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indian Lover Posted April 15, 2007 Share Posted April 15, 2007 Anybody remember this crazy fuck? I think Imus was wrong to charecterize those particular women as "ho's" He apoligised. What bothered me I guess is if he called Paris Hilton, or Brittney Spears "ho's" would have the Reverend Sharpton & Jessie "Hymietown" Jackson stepped up? No. If I was black I would be angry at these two assholes getting rich off me. They proport to speak for every single person in this country of African American descent and have made quite a bit of money doing it. They sieze the cause "de jour" get on tv, extort the proper folks and move on and most likely never contact the affected folks again. I have watched Rev. Sharpton step up to the plate with O'Riely and give him Kudos for that, that takes balls, but again, his mug is on tv. I believe those young ladies could've handled this w/out them two guys. Imus has done alot of good things, all for naught when you say things like that in public. OK, I am going on record as for ONCE agreeing with MICMAC! If, as Sharpton and Jackson stated, that they were primarily speaking on behalf of ALL women, one has to wonder....I, a female, would prefer that they tackle some REALLY OFFENSIVE issues, such as lower wages for women in the workplace. I can handle being called a HO, but lower wages for the same job, that is much more offensive to most women, I would think! I do think that it was inappropriate, but Imus has made his radio career from his over the top, offensive remarks. Being politically correct has never been a requirement for employment! Pete even has a job! LOL! (Just kidding Pete!) Indian Lover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micmac Posted April 15, 2007 Share Posted April 15, 2007 Thanks, (I think????) OK, I am going on record as for ONCE agreeing with MICMAC! If, as Sharpton and Jackson stated, that they were primarily speaking on behalf of ALL women, one has to wonder....I, a female, would prefer that they tackle some REALLY OFFENSIVE issues, such as lower wages for women in the workplace. I can handle being called a HO, but lower wages for the same job, that is much more offensive to most women, I would think! I do think that it was inappropriate, but Imus has made his radio career from his over the top, offensive remarks. Being politically correct has never been a requirement for employment! Pete even has a job! LOL! (Just kidding Pete!) Indian Lover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paolabob Posted April 16, 2007 Share Posted April 16, 2007 This is what a local guy had to say: time on irrelevant shock jock, black leaders need > to be fighting a growing gangster culture. > > By: JASON WHITLOCK (Kansas City Star journalist) > > Thank you, Don Imus. You've given us (black people) an excuse to avoid > our real problem. > > You've given Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson another opportunity to > pretend that the old fight, which is now the safe and lucrative fight, > is still the most important fight in our push for true economic and > social equality. > > You've given Vivian Stringer and Rutgers the chance to hold a > nationally televised recruiting celebration expertly disguised as a > news conference to respond to your poor attempt at humor. > > Thank you, Don Imus. You extended Black History Month to April, and we > can once again wallow in victimhood, protest like it's 1965 and delude > ourselves into believing that fixing your hatred is more necessary > than eradicating our self-hatred. > > The bigots win again. > > While we're fixated on a bad joke cracked by an irrelevant, bad shock > jock, I'm sure at least one of the marvelous young women on the > Rutgers basketball team is somewhere snapping her fingers to the beat > of 50 Cent's or Snoop Dogg's or Young Jeezy's latest ode glorifying > nappy-headed pimps and hos. > > I ain't saying Jesse, Al and Vivian are gold-diggas, but they don't > have the heart to mount a legitimate campaign against the real > black-folk killas. > > It is us. At this time, we are our own worst enemies. We have allowed > our youths to buy into a culture (hip hop) that has been perverted, > corrupted and overtaken by prison culture. The music, attitude and > behavior expressed in this culture is anti-black, anti-education, > demeaning, self-destructive, pro-drug dealing and violent. > > Rather than confront this heinous enemy from within, we sit back and > wait for someone like Imus to have a slip of the tongue and make the > mistake of repeating the things we say about ourselves. > > It's embarrassing. Dave Chappelle was offered $50 million to make > racially insensitive jokes about black and white people on TV. He was > hailed as a genius. Black comedians routinely crack jokes about white > and black people, and we all laugh out loud. > > I'm no Don Imus apologist. He and his tiny companion Mike Lupica > blasted me after I fell out with ESPN. Imus is a hack. > > But, in my view, he didn't do anything outside the norm for shock > jocks and comedians. He also offered an apology. That should've been > the end of this whole affair. Instead, it's only the beginning. It's > an opportunity for Stringer, Jackson and Sharpton to step on victim > platforms and elevate themselves and their agenda$. > > I watched the Rutgers news conference and was ashamed. > > Martin Luther King Jr. spoke for eight minutes in 1963 at the March on > Washington. At the time, black people could be lynched and denied > fundamental rights with little thought. With the comments of a > talk-show host most of her players had never heard of before last week > serving as her excuse, Vivian Stringer rambled on for 30 minutes about > the amazing season her team had. > > Somehow, we're supposed to believe that the comments of a man with > virtually no connection to the sports world ruined Rutgers' wonderful > season. Had a broadcaster with credibility and a platform in the > sports world uttered the words Imus did, I could understand a level of outrage. > > But an hourlong press conference over a man who has already > apologized, already been suspended and is already insignificant is > just plain intellectually dishonest. This is opportunism. This is a distraction. > > In the grand scheme, Don Imus is no threat to us in general and no > threat to black women in particular. If his words are so powerful and > so destructive and must be rebuked so forcefully, then what should we > do about the idiot rappers on BET, MTV and every black-owned radio > station in the country who use words much more powerful and much more destructive? > > I don't listen or watch Imus' show regularly. Has he at any point > glorified selling crack cocaine to black women? Has he celebrated > black men shooting each other randomly? Has he suggested in any way > that it's cool to be a baby-daddy rather than a husband and a parent? > Does he tell his listeners that they're suckers for pursuing education > and that they're selling out their race if they do? > > When Imus does any of that, call me and I'll get upset. Until then, he > is what he is - a washed-up shock jock who is very easy to ignore when > you're not looking to be made a victim. > > No. We all know where the real battleground is. We know that the > gangsta rappers and their followers in the athletic world have far > bigger platforms to negatively define us than some old white man with > a bad radio show. There's no money and lots of danger in that battle, > so Jesse and Al are going to sit it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.