MSNBC Fires Don Imus Over Racial Slur, Why The Outrage?
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The water just keeps getting hotter for shamed radio DJ Don Imus. For those who don't know, during' Imus simulcast show last week he said some derogatory remarks about the Rutgers Women's Basketball Team. What compelled him to utter "nappy-headed hos" about a group of stellar, hard working women athletes is beyond me. But now he's paying the price, and how. MSNBC released this statement to TMZ:
"Effective immediately, MSNBC will no longer simulcast the "Imus in the Morning" radio program. 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. What matters to us most is that the men and women of NBC Universal have confidence in the values we have set for this company. This is the only decision that makes that possible. Once again, we apologize to the women of the Rutgers basketball team and to our viewers. We deeply regret the pain this incident has caused."
This comes on the heels of several negative repercussions leveled at Imus, including his wife being forced to cancel her book tour for her environmentally focused book called Green This! Volume 1: Greening Your Cleaning, and two major TV appearances: "The Martha Stewart Show" and "The View."Â Imus has also had major advertising pulled from his CBS and MSNBC show, as well as a two-week suspension from both - well until he was cancelled altogether from MSNBC.
Sheesh! I don't even think Mel Gibson or Michael Richards' mellow's were harshed that badly. Why the extreme reaction? According to "Opie and Anthony," yet another shockjock show (based in NY) they are firmly behind Imus' right to free speech, and see this as a major blow to anyone hoping to have a "comedy-based" show in radio, where talking 'off the cuff' (as they call it) can cost you your job. And rival Howard Stern, well, he spent his satellite time basking the glory of watching his arch-nemesis go down in flames - shocker!
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