Don Imus and CBS Radio … Going, Going, Gone … Imus Fired

 

The Don Imus free fall has not stopped yet. Now CBS radio has fired Don Imus. However, one wonders when is enough, enough? Who are certain individuals to call for another persons firing when they have done the same or even worse? I guess Imus will be off to satellite radio.

(CBS/AP) CBS announced Thursday that it has fired Don Imus from his radio program, following a week of uproar over the radio host’s derogatory comments about the Rutgers women’s basketball team.

“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.

CBS Chairman and CEO Les Moonves issued the following statement regarding the decision.

Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson may want to walk the walk before they act so high and might and go after someone’s livelihood. What would these two know about public decency? Imus’ comments were more than wrong; however, one would think that at the very least a dialog could occur as to why such things are allowed to be said all the time in mainstream society. It is not a white or black issue, its a societal one.

The Rev. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson met with Moonves to advocate Imus’ removal.

Jackson called the firing “a victory for public decency. No one should use the public airwaves to transmit racial or sexual degradation.”

Said Sharpton: “He says he wants to be forgiven. I hope he continues in that process. But we cannot afford a precedent established that the airways can commercialize and mainstream sexism and racism.”

IMUS: ‘WHEN WILL SHARPTON APOLOGIZE TO DUKE PLAYERS’?

If there is an truth or consistency to any of the arguments against Don Imus then maybe we will begin the discussion regarding rap music and how it, the artists and the music industry attack woman and use the same vulgar and racist language every day. What a novel concept.

Posted April 13, 2007 by
Celebrity, Media | 29 comments


If you liked this post, you may also like these:

  • Scared Monkeys Radio Daily Commentary – Tuesday, June 24, 2008 – Don Imus Is In Trouble Again
  • Scared Monkeys Radio Daily Commentary – Friday, October 5, 2007 – Don Imus Returns To The Airwaves
  • Scared Monkeys Radio Daily Commentary – Tuesday, December 4, 2007 – Don Imus Returns To The Airwaves
  • Daily Commentary – Thursday May 3rd, 2007 – Is Imus Getting 40 Million From CBS?
  • Daily Commentary – Tuesday July 10th, 2007 – Don Imus Considers Returning to Radio




  • Comments

    29 Responses to “Don Imus and CBS Radio … Going, Going, Gone … Imus Fired”

    1. kay zee ess on April 13th, 2007 8:47 am

      Nowhere else to go, I suppose, but satellite radio where, depending on his demographics, he may be getting more than he was at the other two stations.

      Freedom of speech is not necessarily dead, it’s just becomming less and less commercialized(sponsors dictate speech).

      Although I haven’t and won’t listen to him, I would welcome him on my XM radio.

    2. Miss-Underestimated on April 13th, 2007 9:39 am

      Sharpton and Jackson…freedom of speech…on for them…no one else has a right for free speech….

      Well you can boycott the sponsors who backed out.

      Jackson and Sharpton if the walk the walk, go into the music industry and ask they radio stations and recording studios to fire the artists who show violence and hatred towards women and cops.

    3. Jerry from Ohio on April 13th, 2007 10:08 am

      Well this should end this controversy right ?
      Naw the right Rev Sharpton and ol Jessie “do as I say not as I do” Jackson will continue to ride this media frenzy as long as they possibly can just because this is the only way that they can garner media attention and still give the ethnic community
      the feeling that they have something worthwhile to say and the feeling that they have yet won another victory for their
      side .
      The truth be known they have accomplished just the opposite
      of there intended purpose they have given Imus a boost in his radio value and allowed those that support him just a few more things to bring to the table on their point of view.
      So many times the community that Sharpton and Jackson claim to represent is foolishly led blindly into thinking that they are making progress when in reality they are just being duped by the very individuals that claim to be their valued constitutes. NOT !! You are at the most to these political animals visible sign boards but you are blinded by the words that you so long to hear and these words these men have learned to trigger your emotions .
      Just M.H.O.
      Ol Jerry from Ohio

    4. Jerry from Ohio on April 13th, 2007 10:18 am

      I wonder when someone or what group will try and file a Lawsuit for monetary damages against Imus or his station to profit financially from this incident ? ( How about one of the Rutgers Gals as a front for the injured party ?)
      Anyone care to bet this hasn’t been thought about ?
      Sad but true state of today’s overly litigious society .
      J.M.O.

    5. micah on April 13th, 2007 10:25 am

      If I were a cynical jerk I’d say,
      “Gee, couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy!”

      Imus prolly had it coming. Howard Stern better start looking over his shoulder about now…

      Still, we live in America. We have freedom of speech. By determining what one racial group can say, and another racial group cannot say flies in the face of “Equal Rights” and “Equal Opportunity”. It is by definition: RACISM.

    6. micah on April 13th, 2007 10:31 am

      Imus’ comments were extremely mean and horrible.

      But where does this stop? When Freedom of Speech is revoked? Sounds awfully “Taliban” to me!

    7. Carpe Noctem on April 13th, 2007 11:09 am

      I spent some years listening to the guy
      when I lived in Jersey. I listened
      to him back when he had two lungs.

      He got knocked off a horse and they had
      to pull one lung, due to collapse.

      I think he’s an old, wheezing, nutty coot.
      One that likes poking around a bit and stirring up the
      pot.

      He says a lot of stupid things,
      and some are cruel and mean.

      BUT CALLING SOMEONE

      “NAPPY” or a “HOE”
      does not mean you’re
      a racist.

      In his case – REALLY BAD TIMING DO, YOU’RE AN IDIOT
      BUT YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT.

      ***
      There are nappy headed white people, just as any
      other color. There are multi-colored “hoe
      bags” the world over. A “HOE” has nothing
      to do with color!

      Saying all that, what he said was tasteless
      and mean. WHICH — HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

      >That has been his staple for the past 30 years.

      He’s like Howard Stern, if Howard took Geritol,
      wore Depend Diapers, and a overly large cowboy
      hat.

      Don, what’s up with that friggin HAT? You look like Howdy
      Doody sat on a cake of C-4.

      BOTTOMLINE – THE MASSES ARE NOW “KILLING A FLY
      WITH A SLEDGEHAMMER.” Don Imus should not be the
      eternal whipping boy. The answers lie in a society
      that is pushing racist type filth in rap, rock,
      hip-hop, electronica… and trying pass it off
      as “okay.”

      People need to stop with the : WELL, I’m such and such
      color, so it is okay when I say…

      >NO!

      …no, it’s really not.

      It’s not okay… and until people seriously address
      that core issue, this brand of nastiness will
      continue unabated.

      Don definitely needed sever punishment. I don’t know
      if my choice would have been to throw the switches
      on his two radio programs. He definitely needed
      suspension, pay docking, and sensitivity class
      training.

    8. MOLLY FROM LOUISIANA on April 13th, 2007 11:13 am

      YOU WANT FREEDOM OF SPEECH?…..THERE WAS A WAY, BE BORN BLACK. TOO LATE NOW FOR US WHITES.

    9. Simon on April 13th, 2007 11:19 am

      Go Imus…I liked him because he was an equal opportunity offender.I do not think we have heard the last of him.

    10. Freebrid on April 13th, 2007 11:19 am

      #5 you are so correct!! White people have no freedom of speech anymore. We can’t say anything with out being told you can’t say that it’s always about racism!!! To me there wouldn’t be as much racism if Al and Jesse would stop brewing trouble everytime they see chance to make a BUCK$$$ Hey AL & Jesse what about your home girl who told the whopper story about a party with some lacrosse players? I can’t here you!!! And as for Imus, I had never heard of him til I saw him on the evening news. He should not have said what he said, BUT the man said he was sorry about 50 times and has tried to make amands but AL & Jesse want leave it alone, enough is enough, I would like to see what is happen locally on my news channels not this same thing everytime I turn on the T.V. you have the mans job drop it!!!

    11. micah on April 13th, 2007 12:06 pm

      #10: Agreed: Definitely time to drop it.
      Who among us has never said something we wish we hadn’t? Or taken a joke too far? This can happen to anyone, irrespective of race!

    12. R-squared on April 13th, 2007 12:32 pm

      And if he had called a white women’s team a bunch of bleached blonde bimbos, no one would have noticed. Freedom of speech is clearly a one way road today.

    13. Free Speech on April 13th, 2007 12:46 pm

      And I thought that America was the land of Free Speech…What a shame…

    14. Joey on April 13th, 2007 1:38 pm

      Give me a Damn Break.Imus has done more good for Black,White,Asian,Spanish,Italian-shall I go on? Than Al SHAFT-ON and Jesse Jerk-son have done put together. At least he gives his opinions as they are and doesn’t hide behind his color. He is a man of integrity.

      Did Someone say Tewana Brawley? Remember her?
      Did Someone say Duke Lacrosse Players and the exotic stripper who probably was really a nappy headed ho. Oh Jerkson backed out of that one on Anderson Cooper the second he heard of the players innocence.
      Does anyone out there hear what is going on in our society.
      When was the last time anyone gave any consideration to these poor WHITE guys who spent over a year of hell-shear hell with these false accusations. It’s BS and someone should demand that Shaft-on and Jerk-son be called on the carpet for the uprising they cause everytime they think a black person was slighted in any way. They are creating more racism. I know I wouldn’t be making these comments if they didn’t blow this whole thing out of proportion.
      Guys-give it up-you’ll never be the next Martin Luther King Jr. He too had much more integrity than the two of you will ever have-put together. He tried to make us one- you guys are putting the wrench between society.

    15. Joey on April 13th, 2007 1:42 pm

      Oh, and one more thing. The next time someone calls me a GINNEY or says GINNEY-T they’re getting fired.

    16. Brenda on April 13th, 2007 1:50 pm

      Oh Miss Underestimated!!! You did not hear what I heard on the radio this morning. A black man called into our local talk radio station on just this subject. Said “rap music is a choice as to whether you buy/listen or not, so if it offends you, don’t buy it.” Then went on to state “Imus is a public figure and should not have used his platform for racial hate.” Really? If that’s the case, why not just turn off Mr. Imus rather than attack him?? (Isn’t it a choice?!) Isn’t rap played on the PUBLIC radio??

      Well, the host mentioned that little tidbit and guess the answer….”mostly whites by rap music”. What a brainiac that caller must be!

      Yeah, Imus was a doofus. Oh well, so are many others.

      Imagine the mindless uproar should anyone “dare” come against the porn/rap/crap industry for offensive language. This is a vile attack on free speech of the politically incorrect ONLY!

      Can anyone else hear goosestepping in the distance….and it ain’t geese.

      Brenda

    17. Fools Gold on April 13th, 2007 1:56 pm

      If you want to have free speech on a radio you have to own the radio station.

    18. Brenda on April 13th, 2007 1:58 pm

      Dear rsquared,

      You are right. I’m as natural blond as they come with a degree in Programming Analysis(3.87 grade pt avg). I’ve worked as a programmer and now am Sr. Production Control for the iSeries (AS/400) systems where I work. Our company server the insurance industry and we have customers in 57 nations. I work in the 2nd largest data center the company owns.

      I’ve heard the dumb blond jokes my WHOLE life. Guess what? When I was young and not sure of who I was yet…it did bother me.

      Now that I’m older and (a little) wiser, there is no possibility on God’s green earth I could care ANY LESS than I do about such nonsense. I am comfortable with WHO I AM. Any human being who thinks for one moment what another human being thinks changes an iota of what/who they are are ALREADY NOTHING!! Why? They THINK so or would be bothered.

      I find it interesting the “holy reverends” don’t know the Bible says “we will be forgiven AS WE FORGIVE OTHERS”

      P.S. I understand the team has forgiven him. Maybe we should tell the “reverends” they can stop now….

      Brenda

    19. Brenda on April 13th, 2007 2:03 pm

      Darn good post #8.

      Think I would add the following:

      Every race/nationality OTHER than white may say as you please.

      :>)

    20. Patti on April 13th, 2007 2:27 pm

      I feel like I’m reading in a time-warp from the small
      circulatory newspapers that were being published in the
      1950′s and 60′s… in rural Mississippi.

      Scared Monkeys… Why do you even publish such garbage?

    21. Brenda on April 13th, 2007 4:01 pm

      Patti,

      you are free to not read this site….if it isn’t politically “correct” enough for you.

      How about looking at Sharpton or jackson?? Think THEY don’t spew hatred? Think again. Their goal is #1 themselves. #2 make anyone against THEIR agenda pay dearly.

      Brenda

    22. Bill on April 13th, 2007 4:36 pm

      While one may not like it, hatred, racism, and free speech are all part of the freedoms we each enjoy. One has the right to be racist, to hate, to say what one wants. Others have the right to be racist, to hate, and ignore what the other says.

      When one allows the opinion of how others see one, one gives power to the others over oneself. As is stated above, one can allow this or with maturity, one can learn to ignore it. IMO, if you give a damn about other people’s opinions of you, you are in deep poop. The only being you need to concern yourself with is G-d.

      Remember:

      Sticks and stone may break my bones but words can never hurt me. Live by this. Forget what others think. Be secure in yourself. At my point in life, there is nothing and no one I allow to affect me through their opinion. Remarks by idiots hold no power over me. I never argue with idiots because they drag you down to their level and win with experience.

    23. Debbie on April 13th, 2007 4:49 pm

      Would someone please tell me why CBS and MSNBC are such wusses? No backbone at all-they should have suspended Imus and have been done with it. Instead CBS suspends him and then fires him after pressure from “The Reverends.”LAME!

    24. kay zee ess on April 13th, 2007 5:47 pm

      I have no idea why people feel left out when they are chastised for saying perjoratives. Might be part of an inferiority complex they carry, who’s to say.

      Wahhhh, they can say “it” but I can’t. Beautiful. They want the “right?” to sink to a level beneath their potential as human beings. I have no intentions of doing so but then I feel pretty secure with who AND what I am. I have no need to look at what “other” people do or say that is below my concept of dignity and decency and want to join that. It’s not intelligent to do so. I’m not better than anyone else, I just like having a higher standard than the fare that’s out there is all.

      So if you want to complain, I guess you are welcome to. But if you want to go that far down, you might as well stay there.

      Freedumb of speech, I suppose.

    25. Anthony on April 13th, 2007 7:36 pm

      Having Al Sharpton accuse Imus of being a racist is like the pot calling the kettle bl….ohhh! they’re dragging me away from my pc!

    26. david r on April 13th, 2007 9:43 pm

      I think young women who put out the effort to succeed at a school like Rutgers while playing championship basketball should be praised. I thought I’d never agree with Al Sharpton, but Imus pulled it off.

    27. kay zee ess on April 13th, 2007 10:07 pm

      Re Rev. Al -

      Even a clock that is not running is right two times in the course of a day!

    28. Glaswegian on April 13th, 2007 11:59 pm

      I completely agree with this statement by Les Moonves
      “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.

      Why doesn’t this also apply to black men who do not respect women? Black females are at the very bottom of the scale when it comes to respect in their own community.

      When my niece was in high school in New Orleans I attended a school board meeting where one of her classmates told the school board that they needed to keep the music programs in school (the reason we were all at that particular meeting) because “that’s the only thing we are good at.” This was in 1992, not that long ago. The school board members (the majority of them black) were horrified, and rightly so. But, those children were not hearing that lesson at school. They were hearing it in their neighborhoods. Very, very sad.

      To quote Don Imus “he’s a weasel” — and I mean Imus is a weasel. I don’t like his type of radio and I don’t listen to it, he is a rude, ignorant, weasel, but racist? I really don’t think so.

    29. Carpe Noctem on April 16th, 2007 3:02 pm

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