Talk-Radio Host Don Imus Apologizes for On-Air Racial Slurs Against Rutgers Women's Basketball

FOX NEWS.COM ^ | April 06, 2007 | staff

[kellynla]

Syndicated talk-radio personality Don Imus apologized Friday for calling members of the Rutgers University women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos" during a segment yesterday in his "Imus in the Morning" show.

Imus and his producer and on-air sidekick, Bernard McGuirk, went on to further attack the black members of the team, calling them "jigaboos and wannabees."

In his apology, Imus called his comments "insensitive and ill-conceived."

"It was completely inappropriate, and we can understand why people were offended," he told listeners at the opening of his broadcast Friday morning.

He further called the comments "thoughtless and stupid" and said, "We're sorry."

The apology came after Imus initially brushed aside criticism, telling The New York Times "not to worry about some idiot saying something meant to be amusing."

Rutgers officials issued this statement: "We agree with Mr. Imus that this was, in his own words, an 'idiot comment.' We are very proud of the success of the Rutgers women's basketball team. Coach Stringer and the Rutgers players are outstanding ambassadors for this great institution."

Shortly after Imus made his comments about the Rutgers team, MSNBC released the following statement: "While simulcast by MSNBC, 'Imus in the Morning' is not a production of the cable network and is produced by WFAN Radio. As Imus makes clear every day, his views are not those of MSNBC. We regret that his remarks were aired on MSNBC and apologize for these offensive comments."

The comments drew immediate outrage from the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), which had called for a boycott of Imus' show until he issued a "sincere and unequivocal apology," referring to him as a "sophomoric host."

"Has he lost his mind?" asked NABJ President Bryan Monroe, vice president and editorial director for Ebony and Jet magazines in Chicago.

[Mr. Silverback]

They still run it on Cartoon Network at 10:30 and 11:00 Eastern on weeknights. I’ve now seen every episode and I’ll tell you this: Futurama kicks the Simpson’s butts up and down the block, and it was great right up to the end,,,the last episode was the best of them all.

[Marysecretary]

What a stupid thing to say. I never watch the guy.

[Marysecretary]

My sister named our black dog Jigaboo (over 50 years ago). I hate to tell people his name when I give them pictures that he’s in. Good old dog. Deserved a better name than that.

[Tall_Texan]

I was shocked to read these comments. If Rush Limbaugh had this, even in jest, the libs would be making it into a full-blown hate crime.

If there is any fairness, Imus deserves to be fired. These weren’t just racial “jokes” that irritate only the predictable thin-skin crowd. These comments were outright racist and shameful.

[kellynla]

“This guy bumped Bill Bennett here this week in Memphis”

please explain? LOL

btw, I was in MEM last week.
Had some of the best barbecue in my lifetime at the Bar-B-Q Shop on Madison Ave.!!!

[roses of sharon]

When will he apologize to our President, VP, and troops for calling them murderers, terrorists, and liars.

[BigCinBigD]

I find this entire situation extremely hilarious.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Imus is pond scum (apologies to pond scum)

Imus is septic tank crust...

[Mo1]

what .. no comments from Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton??

How about Charles Barron??

[kinsman redeemer]

imus is an Idiot.

[Ken H]

Imus? Never heard of it.

I think that was one of the pet foods that was recalled.

[Mr. Silverback]

Oh yeah...best exchange from the "snoo-snoo" episode:

Zapp Brannigan: "Couldn't we just cuddle for a while?"

Enraged 12ft woman: "Me want snoo-snoo now!"

Zapp: "Please...The spirit is willing but the flesh is spongy and bruised."

The episode is called "Amazon Women in the Mood", the femputer is voiced by (who else) Bea Arthur and one of the first pieces of evidence Fry finds of the kind of civilization thay're dealing with is a can of Tab the size of an oil drum.

[srotaG adirolF]

Imus won’t be fired becasue his idealogy trumps everything-he’s the dirty old man, sheets Bird liberal.
Howard Stern gets away with murder with the things he says and nothing happens to him-he’s the pervert liberal.
I heard some black groups are outraged by his statements, but in their hearts they’ll back down because Imus is one of their own.

[hodaka]

I am sure that his long time rival Howard Stern is going to have fun raking him over the coals for this one.

[Liberty Valance]

"More proof of my theory that 99% of Marines are outstanding human beings, and the 1% that aren't are total bags of crap desperately trying to balnace out the other ones."

.



so who's calling who nappy headed?

[Mr. Silverback]

You make an excellent point.

[Biblebelter]

The idiot defense. In his case, it is an honest defense. That said I find him and his show too creepy to watch or listen to.

[Tainan]

" You're new here, so allow me to explain."
No, I m not 'new' here. I have been a member of FR since approx 1998 under a different SN. This is alluded to in my 'profile.' Did you look there?
"It's part of FR etiquette that if you talk about another person's faults or mistakes to anyone, including the mods, you include the person you're talking about. Otherwise you're "talking behind their back."
This bit of nannyism does not apply to my post. I was responding with my opinion regarding the comment made by Imus. That comment by Mr. Imus is the topic under discussion in this thread.
"Your comment contained racist language, and we don't need that bilge on this site."
NO, my comment contained NO SUCH THING.
"If you disagree with that characterization, just consider it my opinion--you know, you have yours, I have mine. Or, if you really want to test it out, go to the nearest club frequented by the hip-hop crowd, pick a group of women and call them (in a loud voice) "nappy-headed hos." Then, as nature takes it course, be glad that my wife and I both donated type O blood last week."
Is this to be taken as a threat of violence? Is this to be taken as your thinking this is something I would do?
Say, thats some bit of extrapolation you're doing there. Care to explain why you want to create a fantasy situation about this? Also interesting how you have decided to single out my post and start labeling me a "racist" and social malcontent. Upon what do you base this? Is this mis-characterization of my comments really serving a purpose?
Please, stop with this foolishness.

[Ieatfrijoles]

Nothing will happen. Just like the tale of DiFi and the porkpie.

[Mr. Silverback]

NO, my comment contained NO SUCH THING.

Is this to be taken as a threat of violence?

I'm sorry that you were victimized by some horrible accident or disease that damaged your brain to the extent that you can't understand these simple concepts. I hope you are someday able to recover.