NBC, CBS Radio suspend Imus simulcast for two weeks

In the wake of comments host Don Imus made on the April 4 edition of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning -- in which Imus referred to the Rutgers University women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos" -- NBC News announced that "[b]eginning Monday, April 16, MSNBC will suspend simulcasting the syndicated 'Imus in the Morning' radio program for two weeks," according to a statement posted on the NBC Universal Media Village website. Additionally, CBS Radio announced it will suspend Imus for the same two-week period, according to an April 9 Associated Press report. That report asserted that CBS made the suspension "without comment."

On the April 9 edition of NBC's Nightly News, anchor Brian Williams made the announcement his top story, noting that "NBC news called his remarks racist and abhorrent and said Imus has agreed to take action to change the discourse on his program."

Media Matters for America noted Imus' April 4 comments at the time, as well as his subsequent apology two days later. However, as Media Matters noted at the time of Imus' apology, his remarks about the Rutgers team are just the latest in a long history of racial slurs made by him, his guests, and regular contributors on the show.

From the April 9 edition of NBC's Nightly News with Brian Williams:

WILLIAMS: Good evening. Tonight, NBC News has announced radio host Don Imus, whose national morning show is simulcast on our cable network, MSNBC, is being suspended. He will not be seen on MSNBC for two weeks beginning Monday because of comments he made last week.

For many years, Imus in the Morning has been among the most influential of all nationally syndicated shows. Many of us at NBC News are guests on the Imus show. Don Imus spent this entire day apologizing under withering fire for the remarks he made about members of the Rutgers women's basketball team.

Tonight, in making the announcement, NBC News called his remarks racist and abhorrent and said Imus has agreed to take action to change the discourse on his program.

—R.C.