New York – MSNBC said Wednesday that it will drop its simulcast of the “Imus in the Morning” radio program, responding to growing outrage about the radio host’s racial slur against the Rutgers women’s basketball team.
“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,” NBC news said.
The announcement also was made on air.
Talk-show host Don Imus triggered the uproar on his April 4 show, when he referred to the mostly black Rutgers women’s basketball team as “nappy-headed hos.” His comments have been widely denounced by civil rights and women’s groups.
The decision does not affect Imus’ nationally syndicated radio show, and the ultimate decision on the fate of that program will rest with executives at CBS Corp. In a statement, CBS reiterated that Imus will be suspended without pay for two weeks beginning Monday and that CBS Radio “will continue to speak with all concerned parties and monitor the situation closely.”
MSNBC’s action came after a growing list of sponsors – including American Express Co., Staples Inc., Procter & Gamble Co. and General Motors Corp. – said they were pulling ads from Imus’ show for the indefinite future.
But it did not end calls for Imus to be fired from the radio portion of his program.
Bruce Gordon, former head of the NAACP and a director of CBS Corp., said before MSNBC’s decision Wednesday that he hoped the broadcasting company would “make the smart decision” by firing Imus.
“He’s crossed the line. He’s violated our community,” Gordon said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. “He needs to face the consequence of that violation.”
The 10 members of the Rutgers team spoke publicly for the first time Tuesday about the on-air comments, made the day after the team lost the NCAA championship game to Tennessee. Some of them wiped away tears as their coach, C. Vivian Stringer, criticized Imus for “racist and sexist remarks that are deplorable, despicable, abominable and unconscionable.”
Stringer said late Wednesday that she did not call for Imus’ firing but was pleased with the decision by NBC executives.
Imus has apologized repeatedly. He said Tuesday that he hadn’t been thinking when making a joke that went “way too far.”
