MSNBC drops Imus from lineup
Cory Bergman April 11th, 2007
With pressure building from employees, advertisers and the public, NBC News announced this afternoon that MSNBC will no longer simulcast Imus’ radio show. “This decision comes as a result of an ongoing review process, which initially included the announcement of a suspension,” NBC News said in a statement. “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.” Now, what will CBS Radio do?
Also, kudos to Al Roker who stood up and openly blogged about his desire for Imus to go. And Ron Allen also blogged about his distaste for Imus’ comments. It’s clear from NBC’s statement that employee reaction played a big role in this decision. NBC President Steve Capus said he’s received hundreds if not thousands of emails — “many of them are people who have worked at NBC News for decades, people who put their lives on the line covering wars…. When you listen to the passion and the people who come to the conclusion that there should not be any room for this sort of conversation and dialogue on our air, it was the only decision we could reach.”
Update: Video of NBC News President Steve Capus explaining the decision
23 Comments Add your own
1. Steve Safran | April 11th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
I’m surprised. I admit it. I wouldn’t have guessed this one.
2. Anonymous | April 11th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
I’m surprised and impressed it was this quick. I had a feeling it might happen before Imus’s two week suspension was lifted, though, given how the pressure only seemed to be mounting.
If you think about it, there’s no real reason Jimmy the Greek and Rush Limbaugh should have lost their TV gigs for what they said if Imus didn’t, too.
3. Anonymous | April 11th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
And I wonder why these controversies always involve sports? Add in Al Campanis, too.
4. I-Man | April 11th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Where is Al Sharpton for the comments on the Duke players being vindicated? Where is the talk about this being equivalent to Susan Smith who killed her two boys and blamed it on a black man?
Imus made a joke; he didn’t go and accuse the Rutgers players of openly being prostitutes.
5. Darrien | April 11th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
Sadly, there’s was more substance in “Imus in the Morning” than whatever they’re gonna put on to replace it. No reason to watch MSNBC at all.
6. Mona Tate | April 11th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
Will this be enough for the team to move on? Or will they need to be compensated with big bucks to heal completely?
7. vanacore, vincent | April 11th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
Sorry about the decision .Will not be tuned in any more. Did everyone forget all the good things this man has done. What a shame. Inappropriate punishment
8. MD | April 11th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
I never cared much for Imus. However, he apologized every which way to Sunday — and has even agreed to meet with the team from Rutgers!
This turned into a witch-hunt beyond comprehension. It was force-fed to the American public at the expense of much more serious and pressing news stories. Ironically, the worst offenders in this instance were those at NBC News.
I’ve heard numerous people say they’re done watching TODAY and NBC Nightly News b/c they devoted waaay too much time to the saga. There seems to be a particular disgust w/Brian Williams and Al Roker for their unrelenting role in what amounted to a public lynching of a remorseful individual.
9. Allen | April 11th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
Will XM or Sirius welcome him if CBS radio cans him?
10. DamnYankee | April 11th, 2007 at 11:56 pm
I think that if you also consider how disliked Imus was within NBC by the regular joes that work there, and his 10-year long constant bashing of MSNBC while occupying their airwaves, that it’s easy to see why NBC brass made the decision based on employee feedback. Imus got what was coming to him. Good luck at XM, IMan!
11. DC | April 12th, 2007 at 4:37 am
This is ridiculous.
This man has a charity and works to help people but a *JOKE* gets him in a media shit storm? This is way over the top and it’s disgusting to see Al Sharpton out there as a civil rights crusader bashing the man.
As a country, has it come to this? Freedom of speech? What he said was simply a joke, and while people may not like it, does it warrant him losing his job? If so, every hip hop star with sexist, racist lyrics should be fired by their record label.
12. Ty | April 12th, 2007 at 5:26 am
Freedom of speech? This is very funny. Last time I looked I had to PAY for his speech since MSNBC is included in my cable bill and I can’t get rid of it.
WIth rappers, if you don’t like what they say, then don’t buy their CD’s and they will go away! (Which is funny because more white people buy rap music then black people which is why rap is all over the place)
The issue here is actually less about what he said THIS time and more about his pattern. If you have ever listened to Howard Stern talk about Imus, Howard has been saying this about Imus for 20 years. It’s a well known fact that Imus even treats his black and female co-workers in this same fashion.
And to have on Sid Rosenberg who has been fired from every TV and radio station in the country because of his racist slant on things just shows that Imus tolerates this.
Also to be honest the statement was more sexist then racist anyway. To call a group of woman “Ho’s” or Whores on national TV is just crazy.
The last thing I find interesting is that black people where the brunt of jokes, slavery etc for 400 years. And because they have had it fairly easy for the last 40 years people act as if that makes up for the other 360 that was messed up. (Remember even though slavery was over at the end of the civil war, black people didn’t get to vote till the mid 1960’s and had to face Jim Crow till the late 1960’s. Which is where I am counting the 40 years from) Black people still have to fight for their rights. Al Sharpton and Jackson are not perfect but I don’t see anyone else out there rushing to be at the front of the line for the job.
13. Jay | April 12th, 2007 at 5:41 am
“There seems to be a particular disgust w/Brian Williams and Al Roker for their unrelenting role in what amounted to a public lynching of a remorseful individual.”
Here we go with this remorseful crap. The only reason Imus was being remorseful is because his card got pulled. If the firestorm had not gotten so hot then Imus would never have said he was sorry. It’s not like he saw on his own that it was wrong. And it took him 2 days to even get to the I’m sorry part. His first statement was “Everyone needs to relax and should not be offended by “some idiot comment meant to be amusing.” Then when the media got on him 2 days later he was sorry and going on Al Sharpton!
You know when a person is being stupid when they have to count how many black friends they have. Or give examples of the black people they like. Or the little black kid they once helped at their ranch. If you are really sorry you say you are sorry, let people know that you will work on being more compassionate and learn more about the people you offended etc. And then do it.
We don’t need all the fakeness, tap dancing etc.
14. bruce | April 12th, 2007 at 11:39 am
MR IMUS IS BEING ROBBED OF HIS FREEDOM OF SPEECH.HE NEVER ONECE MADE A REFERENCE TO RACE.WATCH THE TAPE AND TELKL ME HE SAID ONE THING DIRECTLY TO BLACK PEOPLE,NO HE DIDNT.IF I WAS IMUS I WOULD SUE ALL OF YOU.IM AM BACKING IMUS 100%.NAPPY HEADED HOES.NOW I SIAD IT WHO CARES.WHY ARE OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS DIEING IN IRAQ FOR OUR SO CALLED FREEDOM IF WE ARENT TRUELY FREE TO USE THEM?IF THATS THE CASE THEN BRING THE TROOPS HOME BECAUSE ITS POINTLESS FOR THEM TO BE THERE NO ONCE DID HE SAY ANYTHING ABOUT RACE ,NAPPY HEADED HOES IS NOT RACIAL .OH SHIT I JUST SAID IT NOW IM GOING TO BE CALLED BAD STUFF.RAPPERS CALL WOMEN HOES BITCHES AND ALL KIND OF STUFF AND NO ONE CARES.OTHER PEOPLE CALL WOMEN HOES AND BITCHES AND NO ONE CARES.SO WHY THE FUCK DO WE CARE IF IMUS SAID IT.HE HAS THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND HE USED IT AND THEY ARE TAKING IT AWAY.WHY DONT WE JUST SLAP A MUSTACHE ON BUSH AND JUST CALL HIM HITLER BECAUSE HES DOING THE SAME DAMN THING.WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENTS TO THE FULLEST.ALSO WHY CAN MUSLIMS PRAY TO THERE GOD IN SCHOOL OR PUBLIC BUT WHEN I PRAY TO MY GOD PEOPLE FREAK OUT ONCE AGAIN OUR AMENDMENTS ARE UNDER ATTACK AND ITS TIME TO TAKE IT BACK BEFORE WE HAVE ANOTHER HITLER ON OUR HANDS.OK IM DONE IM JUST SAYIN I SUPPORT IMUS AND IF YA GOT SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT IT DONT GET MAD WHEN I SAY SOMETHING BACK.
BRUCE
Article [I.]
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
15. bruce | April 12th, 2007 at 11:41 am
I SUPPORT YOU IMUS THATS WHY OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE DIEING IN IRAQ FOR OUR FREEDOMS
BRUCE
Article [I.]
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
16. MD | April 12th, 2007 at 11:55 am
Looks like the gross zeal of the liberal media has put “the fifth estate” in further jeopardy. The very freedoms they espouse are the same freedoms they now seek to regulate. They revel in the freedom to attack the President and other politicians they don’t agree with — in the name of freedom. Now they seek to silence (censor) those who say things they don’t like or which they deem offensive.
Ah, the hypocrisy. Way to go guys!
As more people tune-out the nightly news, seeking more reliable and objective means to keep informed, the real winner emerges: DIGITAL MEDIA!!
Let’s hope that doesn’t get compromised as well.
17. Mike Escutia | April 12th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
Bruce, there’s this thing called the caps lock. You may want to turn yours off if you want your rant to be readable.
18. James | April 12th, 2007 at 10:35 pm
Freedom of speech applies to the government not restricting what citizens say. MSNBC and CBS are not the government, and they have no obligation to air nappy-headed-ho speak. They can choose to air what they want. You’re not a victim, Bruce.
19. ron whitcomb | April 13th, 2007 at 8:07 am
Thank you for the opportunity to exercise my “free speech” while I still have it.
Don Imus is not a racist. He made a bad racist joke on a comedy show. Let he who has never told or a least chuckled over an off colored joke cast the first stone. I live in the whitest state in the USA and I know racism exist, but I do not believe it is a minute to minute problem as Al Sharton and others would have us believe. What I do see here and on national public formums is it’s the Black people that are having the problem with being black. Whites by a large majority just don’t factor it into their daily lives. We don’t care about skin color. Black people, please get over it. Of course it behooves Al Sharpton and his like to keep the race fires burning, otherwise he would have to get a real job. This continuing staged outrage is becoming tiresome.
We have a saying around here. The more you stir a turd, the more it stinks. Everybody, not stiring.
The Black community should remember we live in a country of majority rules and Blacks are a small minority. No other country in the world has gone to such lengths to protect and right the wrongs that all minorities have suffered, but a back lash is a real possibility if you push to hard. Freedom of speech must always trump hurt feelings. If the line is drawn on public airways now, what’s next? Public property, public forms.
I wonder how much that money affected CBS and MSNBC’s decision. I have a feeling they may be the real Hos in this matter.
Good bye MSNBC and CBS.
Hello CNN
Ron Whitcomb
Vermont
20. Janelle | April 13th, 2007 at 10:35 am
Ron, you had me all the way — until the end of your post.
Instead of switching to another network that spews liberal bias (CNN), might I suggest a better option: FOX News
On the digital front:
http://www.christophervan.com
21. Reginald Vanstory | April 14th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
Dear Sir or Mamm; One thing that upsets me the most about this issue is the fact that AL Sharpton is no leader nor spokes person for Black people neither is Jessie Jackson. Second of all Imus is a big time klansmen from way back the truth has been revelled by previous statments against black people as well as Jewish. Imus got comfortable and wealthy from talk radio and what he said hurt the big corperations where black people shop at.So this whole ordeal is not about black people feelings because who gives a damn about them? Hip Hop is the worst thing ever but Imus is using it for a crutch.
22. Lester | April 19th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Tricky how few people understand, “freedom of speech” doesn’t allow you to slander and defame people. To call someone a HO, in the IMUS context, IS CALLING THEM A PROSTITUTE OR AT LEAST A PERSON OF VERY LOW MORALS. This is an actionable offense under civil laws. The Rutgers Lady Knights each have the right to sue Imus and CBS/MSNBC for slander and defamation, unless the defendants can prove that they are, in fact, nappy headed hos. If it isn’t true, you can be sued. READ THE CONSTITION and LEARN THE LAWS. Then you can feel smarter than 85% of the population. Bush did NOT blow up New Orleans.
23. Steve | August 14th, 2007 at 8:40 pm
I am very happy to see IMUS will be coming back! His program I loyally watched on MSNBC and now there is nothing worth viewing any more. For the record Imus and his wife are the great people and have done magnitudes more good than harm, that is if you bother to examine the record. I really think that this whole issue is one sided, exaggerated, and was uncalled for. He apologized and that should have been it. I think that there are too many super sensitive, blood thirsty people out there that have nothing better to do than critize, cite laws, morality and throw stones. I wonder what would come out if the light was turned on them? We live in a melting pot in this country and we should grow up and deal with it. There are bigger fish to fry.
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