Imus show gets canned

[Tramspotter]

And Somehow MSNBC gets jump on the story (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17999196/). Hmmmmmm

[innerSpaceman]

While I think the whole "outrage" was overblown for what was clearly a misguided comic comment and not an actual opinion ... I'm glad at least MSNBC got called on its own hypocracy in ending the Imus suspension just in time for sweeps period. Let's hope the actual networks that carry his show are also forced to bow to pressure and go further than their craven ratings-grabbing faux punishment suspension.

[scaeagles]

I am certainly not an Imus fan, but I sense a huge amount of disingenuousness in this whole controversy.

The man is and always has been a moron and said stupid things. He is crass and an equal opportunity degrader, slurring Jews, Christians, African-Americans, everyone. So why is this such a big deal? I believe what he said was stupud, racially motivated, and completely inappropriate, but so is much of everything else he says.

There are so many different angles to this. First, and admittedly I'm not one of those players, but how "damaged" can they really be by this? Someone who doesn't know them called them "nappy headed hos". This damages you to the point of having a two hour press conference? So what if your feelings are hurt?

Doesn't most of the hip-hop world embrace artists who have things worse than that in their music?

Who is Al Sharpton to demand an apology from anyone?

It is no secret that Imus has said many other stupid things. Now for all of the media personalities and politicians that have previously gone on his show to be denouncing him is too little too late, if you ask me. They wanted his audience regardless of what he had said previously and now they choose to act as if they didn't know who he was previously?

I don't mind how this has played out with various sponsors pulling out and MSNBC dropping him. Let the free market work.

[Alex]

I think part of the problem is that in this case the specific target seems particularly undeserving. Hilary Clinton puts herself out there and the really stupid crap comes with the territory. Same with most of the other specific people that have been his targets (as I read it around the webs, I've never heard his show).

But you wonder just what the hell kind of dark inner demons leads a man to look at a happy group of young, athletic, ambitious, and successful women and decide that "nappy headed hos" is the way to go.

I also hate the "but rappers do it!" First, a lot of people complain about the rappers doing it and maybe it is hypocritical for CBS to can Imus while selling rap CDs but that doesn't clear Imus of wrongdoing. But even then it is equally disingenuous to pretend that there is no such thing as reserved vocabulary and that some words are more acceptable when said by certain people than when said by others.

When a white person says ****** it has a different history, intent, and context than when a black person says it.

All that said, I'm more bothered by the ho half (misogynist) than the nappy (racist, perhaps) half. Nappy, regardless of its reserved use, is descriptive (though I noticed this morning that more than half of the players have relaxed not "natural" (the more acceptable term) hair. But I just don't trust or like a person who uses any version of "whore" as a synonym for "woman."

[scaeagles]

I can see the part of undeserving, and I also agree that because the hip-hop industry makes millions off of such things that it does not mean that Imus can get away with it or that it justifies it. I was not meaning to imply such, only that there are much more harmful things out there in terms of degradation of women.

Perhaps the undeserving part and the fact that it was directed at some specific people is what makes it such a story

[Tramspotter]

But I just don't trust or like a person who uses any version of "whore" as a synonym for "woman."

Except when discussing, media whores, and sexual whores, in context :p

[Alex]

Uh...that was in reference to a man. Calling men whores is fine by me.

[CoasterMatt]

Maybe he can go do new narration for Spaceship Earth?

[Stan4dSteph]

Perhaps the undeserving part and the fact that it was directed at some specific people is what makes it such a storyYes. It's just so out of the blue and mean-spirited.

I'm glad the NBC decided to can his show. He's old and mumbly, and should have been off the air long ago.

[Morrigoon]

As I understand it the whole thing was a contrast between the one team, and the team they were playing. Supposedly he said some rather flattering things about the other team and the insult was that they looked like _____ by comparison.

I'm not defending him, mind you, it was still a stupid thing to do and there was absolutely no reason to bring racial terms into it, especially when words like "unkempt" would have sufficed. But words like that probably don't exist in his vocabulary.

[Chernabog]

Yeah I think he was stupid and crossed the line, but DEAR LORD the reaction has been way out of proportion.

The usual suspects showed up -- Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson -- and franky I think these people are detriments to the african-american community. They don't just want an apology, they want the person who made the comment painfully eviscerated. Does anyone take these people seriously? The fact that they troll around looking for any old comment to jump on annoys the living crap out of me. Didn't they ever read "The Boy Who Cried Wolf"? When the wolf actually came nobody took him seriously or believed him.

And calling people out on stuff is big business. I worked for a gay organization that did a similar thing for homophobic remarks -- and apologies were only accepted with a large cash donation. Otherwise, it's homophobic branding-time for EVERYONE, even those who made a misguided comment that they didn't realize was or meant to be offensive, as well as those in the truly intolerant category who deserved it.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Anyone see the "nagger" episode of South Park. "Now, apologize."

[Snowflake]

CBS has now fired Imus.

[Chernabog]

CBS has now fired Imus.

Now I'm waiting for Jesse Jackson's surprise reaction: "It's just not enough! He must have his testicles dissected by hungry rodents before the African American community is appeased! We will have our vengeance!"

[blueerica]

Not to say what Imus said was all that great, but I've been getting tired of everyone dodging their own mistakes, from Jesse Jackson to Al Sharpton as well as other without such public showings of their judgmental attitudes. It's not like I need a lengthy explanation or to hear an apology for it, but for others to presume their own innocence when applying stereotypes to race, gender and sexual preferences just doesn't sit well with me.

To add to the whole issue, I've noticed that the biggest portion of the news coverage (and thus, overexposure) seemed to come from NBC. Over the last few days, it's been a part of every other segment of the Today Show - and throughout the network was probably talked about more then the Anna Nicole debacle. It felt insincere to me - as though NBC was just doing so to cover their own asses.

I, too, wonder what the anti-Imus camp has to say about the firings.

[Alex]

"Yay"?

[thecorndogwalker]

Can you believe that they interviewed Kobe Bryant this morning on tv and asked him what he thought about Imus and he said "He was disgusted and outraged?"

Kobe!!!

LOL OMG....

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

Somehow I think ALL those involved need to revist this again. It seems to have gotten lost as of late... on both sides.

[innerSpaceman]

Roseanne's anti-gay comments and apology this week seems to have gotten lost in the shuffle.

And now that Anna Nicole Smith's baby's dad has been determined, I suppose there's a vacuum in trash news that Imus seems to have filled entirely.



Christ, I hate trash culture!

[Not Afraid]

Blisfully ignorant am I.

[scaeagles]

Sharpton has also come out and basically said that this is just the beginning, and it needs to be determined what should not be allowed to be said.

Scary.

[innerSpaceman]

ignorant n!gger.

[wendybeth]

Bill Maher was practically drawn and quartered for what he said regarding the cowardice of the terrorists. I didn't agree with all of the negative attention at the time, and still don't, but he's a big boy and he makes his living in an industry that puts him out there where he has to face the consequences of his actions. The same goes for Coulter and Imus. I totally disagree with what Imus said, am very offended by it and yet I stand by his right to say it. I also stand by his employer's right to call him to task, and the public has every right to speak out as well. I also think we have the right, if not duty, to point out the hypocrisies of people like Bryant and Sharpton.

That said, I think this is waaaay overkill. We've all heard worse on the Howard Stern or Bob and Tom shows. Hell, we've heard worse trash-talking in the NBA.

[blueerica]

Sharpton has also come out and basically said that this is just the beginning, and it needs to be determined what should not be allowed to be said.

Scary.

Are you for real? That's. Just. Stupid.

And really effing scary.

[€uroMeinke]

I wonder what it's like to have Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson attach themselves to absolutely anything to do with your race ready to voice your indignation outrage.

[NirvanaMan]

It's a sad day to be an American.

I never liked Imus personally, but this is ****ing really upsetting me. This is a ridiculous abuse of and demonstrates the maliscious nature of our media. Similar to how they bastardized those Duke lacrosse players on Fox News, CNN, MSNBC and local news...and now they are proven innocent. The fact that we offer two of the biggest racist bastards of our times (Sharpton/Jackson) any credibility and airtime is truly pathetic.

Sad sad day indeed.

[thecorndogwalker]

Its so backwards. I mean this is just like the whole Janet Jackson debacle.. now media is going to shift again... the FCC is just so insane... Its very scary almost communistic in its ways... I mean we are going to get to a point where nobody can say anything on the airwaves...

[Scrooge McSam]

the FCC is just so insane

Although I don't disagree with you, I fail to see what this has to do with the FCC. What did I miss?

Yes, Sharpton was front and center running his mouth. But when isn't Sharpton big and loud, braying to the heavens about some injustice, perceived or otherwise?

IMHO, this is about money, pure and simple. This incident struck a chord with a lot of people who cared enough to speak out. Companies were told "you continue to advertise with this guy and I'm not so sure I'll continue to buy your products". Sponsors, faced with a loss of revenue, pulled out. CBS, looking a $12M loss square in the eye, can now claim they're firing Imus for all the right reasons. Pfft! Spare me.

Free market advocates, rejoice!

Me? I need a drink. For the first time, I find myself agreeing with Malkin.

Make that a double.

[SacTown Chronic]

Al Sharpton is an opportunistic, nappy-headed attention ho who always sticks his nose in these issues.

Same as he ever was.

But nobody forced Imus to lick Sharpton's boots and beg for forgiveness. Though I absolutely abhor what Imus said and I don't mind at all that he lost his job (though a punch in the nose from one of the fathers of the girls he denigrated would have sufficed), I was disappointed that Imus felt compelled to suck up to the self-appointed arbiter of all things Negro.



It's a sad day to be an American.Where ya been the last four years, bro?

[Stan4dSteph]

Imus is free to say it, and NBC or CBS are free to fire his old wrinkly ass for it.

If he's that great, he'll get hired by somebody else.

[Jughead P. Jones]

Seems like one of these cases where the reaction is scarier than the actual comment itself.

[alphabassettgrrl]

And now that Anna Nicole Smith's baby's dad has been determined, I suppose there's a vacuum in trash news that Imus seems to have filled entirely.

Christ, I hate trash culture!

I'm with you here. Why is that news??

Blisfully ignorant am I.

Bliss is right.


This is a ridiculous abuse of and demonstrates the maliscious nature of our media. Similar to how they bastardized those Duke lacrosse players on Fox News, CNN, MSNBC and local news...and now they are proven innocent.

"Dismissed for lack of evidence" is not quite the same as "proven innocent" but I get the point about the media circus and there I agree with you.


IMHO, this is about money, pure and simple. This incident struck a chord with a lot of people who cared enough to speak out. Companies were told "you continue to advertise with this guy and I'm not so sure I'll continue to buy your products". Sponsors, faced with a loss of revenue, pulled out. CBS, looking a $12M loss square in the eye, can now claim they're firing Imus for all the right reasons. Pfft! Spare me.

Free market advocates, rejoice!

Raising my glass! It's not censorship, it's a backlash from people who don't want to hear that level of trash and don't want to support it with their advertising dollars.

While I can see a place for one or two of the guys that can and will say anything, this is getting out of hand. It's just nasty now.

[Chernabog]

Raising my glass! It's not censorship, it's a backlash from people who don't want to hear that level of trash and don't want to support it with their advertising dollars.

While I can see a place for one or two of the guys that can and will say anything, this is getting out of hand. It's just nasty now.



Totally. Although I've already stated my piece on the ethically bankrupt tactics of Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, I think the end result of Imus getting canned is not in opposition to our (or his) first amendment rights.

Nowhere in the first amendment does it say we are guaranteed a forum to air our thoughts. Imus' forum is only temporarily over until satellite radio contacts him, which you bet your sweet arse they are doing after all this free publicity. Suddenly, Al and Jesse made him relevant again, which only goes to line their own pockets and work against what they supposedly stand for, i.e. making the idiot Imus bigger than he's been in decades.

The CBS execs are being completely disingenuous when they say this had to do with the SPEECH and not with the DOLLARS. If the advertising reaction had been "look, free publicity!" then CBS would never have pulled anything. MORE people watched Rosie after that silly "Ching chong" debacle that she talked about, and you didn't see her even suspended from the show. She apologized, end of story.

So yeah, if the free market dictates what we see, well, I've accepted that as a member of the society we live in. But don't tell me it's not because of the money.

[Alex]

"Dismissed for lack of evidence" is not quite the same as "proven innocent" but I get the point about the media circus and there I agree with you.


In his press conference announcing the dismissal of the charges the state AG explicity used the word innocent, which is not a word easily used by prosecutors.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Ah. I was reading news articles.