Well, we all saw the writing on the wall for this one. Don Imus was fired by CBS today.
"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. "That consideration has weighed most heavily on our minds as we made our decision."
Read the full statement here.
Note that the term "fired" is used a little loosely here. As far as I can tell, Imus' show has been "canceled" which means that CBS is still retaining, and probably paying, Imus for the meantime. But once his contractual obligations are over... well, welcome to satellite Imus.
Your mom's box.
"the effect language like this has on our young people, particularly young women of color trying to make their way in this society"
Then, as a shareholder of CBS, I sincerely hope they pull all music with similar lyrics from their stations.
He should be onboard about the time they put the finishing touches on the new XMSIRIUS logo :)
Imus gets fired for making a joke about black women, but every black comedian gets to continue making jokes about white people and they're not considered racist and rappers gets to continue to degrade those very black women with the same slurs and remarks Imus got fired for. when is the hypocrisy and double standard about racial remarks going to end? African Americans want to be treated like equals in society, yet dopes like Reverend Al and Jesse Jackson only further the racial divide with their "outrage." kiss the First Amendment goodbye, everyone.
Everybody knew this was going to happen.
What ever happened to free speach??????
I guess we have free speech in this country unless we are talking about blacks, then it is best to keep your mouth shut.
I don't agree with what he said, but the constitition guarantees his right to say it and to have an opinion.
Shame on CBS for their cowardice in the face of race baiting hypocrites like Al "Hymietown" Sharpton and Whoopie "Ted Danson can be in black-face because I like him" Goldberg.
While Imus' comment was ignorant and propagated stereotypes, such commentary would not be given a second look if he were black.
One standard for everyone.
End race based codes, race based restrictions, race based benefits, race based defenses, and race based speech codes. You cannot fight racism with more racism.
Ryan - I think there is ZERO percent chance Imus lands at Sirius or XM before a merger is decided on by the FCC. They would be absolutely nuts to hire him and piss off the government and the public. Positively nuts! Maybe a year or so from now when this all blows over and the merger is already decided on.
Do any of you understand Satire, Context, or Accountability, you know.... besides MeatFarley?
"While Imus' comment was ignorant and propagated stereotypes, such commentary would not be given a second look if he were black."
*Cough*Tim Hardaway*Cough*
"Imus gets fired for making a joke about black women, but every black comedian gets to continue making jokes about white people and they're not considered racist and rappers gets to continue to degrade those very black women with the same slurs and remarks Imus got fired for. when is the hypocrisy and double standard about racial remarks going to end?"
*cough*Nick Dipaolo*cough* *cough*Sarah Silverman*cough* *cough*hos do exist in real life*cough*
I understand the public has extremely short memories but you sound like petty morons with all this, "ZOMG da blacks can say whatever they want", nonsense.
Well let's see the consequenses of this now. I hope the same rules apply to others in radio in reguards to offending ANYONE. This was just handled very wrong and I'm curious to see what impact this might have on comedie shows like SNL and others in reguards to racial humor.
This is B.S
All I can say to Imus is: Welcome to XM Nation! And Les Moonvees is a corporate weenie.
Don't get all worked up. It is all about money and money alone. When the sponsors left, so did Imus.
Why are we still talking about him? I want to hear how the Alabama State Senate voted on the resolution against satellite radio.
I did not say "da blacks can say whatever they want".
Tim Hardaway's statements were about homosexuals, last time I check that wasn't a race.
You are ignorant if you do not see different standards when commenting about race. You know, race, the topic at hand Schimshamity. I desire a nation where we all can have the same standard, you know that "equality" thing that people like to talk about and not practice. Either we all get to say something or we all do not. To accept a lesser standard is to accept a level of racism that I am not comfortable with. To enforce such a standard is to practice racism.
DOWN GOES IMUS! Is this a good time to bring up O&A? Technically, this isn't quite Satellite Radio news at all, so what's wrong with being off-topic?
it wasn't just about this incident
this has been going on for a while
now on the msnbc side.
i think people that work with and
around him felt enough is enough
and it was time to go.
and come on cbs let go
of bruice and he neverv said
a bad word about anybody
It's time to start boycotting msnbc and cbs for bowing down to the two biggest racists Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson. They bare are not helping the black community. They are driving a bigger wedge between whites and blacks with their stupid little cry baby antics. I hope sirius or xm picks him up down the road when this cools down.
"webmaster@fullblownaids.com"
t
Tomorrow Morning (Friday 4/12/07) 6:30 AM outside the Today Show - Meet tomorrow at Rockefellar Center under the big statue by the ice skating rink.
Show up if you can... this is urgent!!! Be there!!!
AFTER WE WILL HEAD OVER TO CBS HEADQUARTERS AT 52ND AND 6TH
This week, MSNBC decided to cancel their television broadcast of Imus in the Morning, and Today Radio talk show host Imus in the Morning was fired by CBS for for using the phrase "nappy headed hos" on his morning talk show.
This is not only ridiculous, but SERIOUSLY dangerous.
He was fired, not because CBS or MSNBC decided they didn’t like his show, and not because his ratings dropped, but solely because there are some leaders in the black community who called for him to be fired. This is a tremendously dangerous precedent for us as a country. Do we want all radio hosts to be afraid to use humor that might possibly offend someone?
We might as well kiss goodbye all programming that tries to be even remotely provocative including Opie and Anthony, Ron and Fez, Imus, and even people like Howard Strern, Scott Ferrall, Bubba the Love Sponge and countless others.
Support Imus and speak out against oversensitive controlling Douchbags like Al Sharpton, and cowardly corporations who cave at the slightest provocation.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT BY JOINING US TOMORROW AND MONDAY OUTSIDE THE TODAY SHOW AT NBC WITH SIGNS THAT SUPPORT FREE SPEECH, AND IMUS, AND VOICE THE OPINION THAT YOU DON’T WANT CORPORATIONS TO CAVE FROM PRESSURE BY PEOPLE LIKE AL SHARPTON.
LETS MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION. PLEASE DON’T LOOK LIKE SLOBS OR ACT LIKE ASSHOLES. THIS IS NOT A PROTEST, it is an attempt to be seen or heard.
Meet at 30 Rockerfeller Plaza at 6:30 am by the giant Atlas Statue above the Skating Rink both tomorrow and Monday. Please join us.
This is disgusting and very sad. I'd like to personally thank the REV. Al Sharpton for being such a tool. oh to hell with free speech, what on earth do we need a silly thing like it for anyways!!!!
They are just words, people. They only have the power that you give them.
"Tim Hardaway's statements were about homosexuals, last time I check that wasn't a race."
Oh, My mistake. I though this was an ignorance issue as opposed to just a black/white one. I guess when people get over having their whiteness besmirched, they may see it that way too.
There is such a thing as free speech. Its up to advertisers if they want to pay you to have it heard.
I know if XM or Sirius was thinking about signing Imus, it probably wouldn't be until after the merger was approved.
However, they might be able to spin this to their advantage when talking about the merger. I'm no legal expert and don't know much about contract law, but I imagine that Imus has a no-compete clause in his contract with CBS. What if XM/Sirius signed him right now and attempted to put him on the air with his show immediately? If CBS raised a stink about it because of his contract (which I'd imagine they would), wouldn't this be more evidence that satellite radio DOES compete with terrestrial?
Just a thought...
This is bad for terrestrial but good for satellite because nobody can complain about pay radio, right? Hmm...
What time did it happen. I said that CBS would fire him no later than noon today.
~4:27pm was when he was fired.
to all you first amendment morons,that amendment applies to government stopping a person's right to speak out against that government. I figured someone better say something before you to work and curse out your boss then try to use the 1st amendment as a defense or do you think that defense should be used only when bullies make fun of others.
As far as I can tell I called it:
http://www.orbitcast.com/archives/the-imus-situation-is-intensifying.html#comment-177097
His show is canceled, but he's still going to get paid by CBS.
I would imagine that CBS will replace Imus with Mancow, he's the only one I can think of who does something like Imus's politics/shock-jock routine.
CBS will most likely rehire David Lee Rothe. They are good at doing stupid things. It will be hard to replace the 15 million dollars a year they made with Imus plus having to pay out the rest of his 3 to 5 years left on his contract.
I got fired several times in radio and I never had a deal where I continued to be paid while I was unemployed. How do I get on THAT gravy train?
Oh noes! Another "Million Pest March"!!
I'll see you both at Rockefeller Center. Good luck with that.
Any truth to the rumor that Imus will be hosting a weekly show on XM's RAW? ;)
O&A are syndicated to CBS, CBS pulls Imus off the Air, Will CBS allow Imus to go to XM with an Ad Revenue sharing deal? How much longer is Imus's contract?
cbs fired imus so there wont be any sharing.
i'm sure there was a no cpmpete in his contract
and he just singed a new 5 year contract.
its funny how imus gets fired (which is understandable) yet the other biggots know as al sharpton and jesse jackson have degrated white folks and no one does nothing about it! how about the rappers who degrade white people and women? snoop dogg makes a rediculous statement saying their talking about hood chicks?....stop making exuses and fire or suspend ANYONE who makes racist remarks NOT JUST WHITE PEOPLE!!!!! i guess hypocrytes like sharpton and jesse jackson didnt listen to MLK when he sayed "ALL MEN SHOULD BE CREATED EQUAL"
WAIT HOLD THE PRESSES
"nappy headed ho's"
where is the racism there? sexist maybe...but do black people automatically think they are the only ones who can be nappy headed or ho's?
the more i think about it the more i think it was not even racist...THERE WAS WHITE GIRLS ON THE TEAM...and some of them looked whore-ish too...