Imus Apologizes for "Nappy-Headed Hos" Comment
Incident is merely the latest in a string of racial slurs and incendiary comments documented by Media Matters
Washington, DC -
Don Imus today apologized for calling members of the Rutgers University
women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos" on his nationally
syndicated radio program Imus in the
Morning, which is simulcast on MSNBC. His comments, however, are
just the latest in a long history of racial slurs made on the show by Imus, his
guests, and regular contributors.
"All too often in the media, overtly harsh and inflammatory comments are made on shows like Imus in the Morning simply for shock value, without thinking of their meaning or implication," said David Brock, President and CEO of Media Matters for America. "While we appreciate his apology in this instance, this is nothing new for Imus. It is just the latest in the string of racial slurs by Imus and those on his show that Media Matters has documented. We hope he will take this opportunity to re-examine his behavior."
Imus apologized this morning at 6:06 a.m. ET, saying his comments were "insensitive and ill-conceived" and adding, "It was completely inappropriate, and we can understand why people were offended." He further called the comments "thoughtless and stupid" and said, "[W]e're sorry."
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."
Media Matters has documented several other racial slurs on Imus' show in the past. Most recently, Imus invited Sid Rosenberg back on his show after he was fired for referring to Palestinians as "stinking animals" and saying, "They ought to drop the bomb right there, kill 'em all right now." Those and other inflammatory comments got Rosenberg fired from the show; however, Imus has continued to invite him and others back on the air.
More from Media Matters for America on Don Imus ...
Imus called women's basketball team
"nappy-headed hos"
In the April 4 edition of MSNBC's Imus
in the Morning, host Don Imus referred to the Rutgers University
women's basketball team, which is comprised of eight African-American and two
white players, as "nappy-headed hos" immediately after the show's
executive producer, Bernard McGuirk, called the team "hard-core hos."
Later, former Imus sports announcer Sid Rosenberg, who was filling in for sportscaster
Chris Carlin, said: "The more I look at Rutgers,
they look exactly like the [National Basketball Association's] Toronto
Raptors."
He's back? Rosenberg alluded to previous racially
insensitive remarks that first got him fired from Imus
On the March 27 edition of MSNBC's Imus
in the Morning, former Imus sports announcer Sid Rosenberg appeared
on the program and referenced a story in the New
York Daily News headlined "Serena Shocked by Racist
Heckler." Rosenberg
commented, "I was on an airplane," suggesting that he could not have
been the one heckling professional tennis player Serena Williams.
Imus' McGuirk on "young colored
fellah" Obama "pretty much deckin' the old bag from New York"
On the March 16 edition of MSNBC's Imus
in the Morning, executive producer Bernard McGuirk, performing as
his character "Cardinal Egan," said that "the whole nation is
talking about" reports of a "young colored fellah pretty much deckin'
the old bag from New York and takin' away some of her money." McGuirk
continued: "I'm speaking, of course, about [Sens.] Barack Obama [D-IL] and
Hillary Clinton [D-NY]."
On Imus, McGuirk said that
"bitch" Clinton
will "have cornrows and gold teeth"
On the March 6 edition of MSNBC's Imus
in the Morning, executive producer Bernard McGuirk said that Sen.
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) was "trying to sound black in front of a
black audience" when she gave a speech on March 4 in Selma, Alabama,
to commemorate the 1965 "Bloody Sunday" civil rights march. McGuirk
added that Clinton
"will have cornrows and gold teeth before this fight with [Sen. Barack]
Obama [D-IL] is over." Earlier in the program, in reference to Clinton's speech, McGuirk
had said, "Bitch is gonna be wearing cornrows." McGuirk also said
that Clinton
will be "giving Crips signs during speeches." The Crips are a Los
Angeles-based street gang.
Imus: "[I]t was Bernard who
said, 'Besa mi culo' ... not me"
On the February 8 edition of MSNBC's Imus
in the Morning, during a discussion with Newsweek magazine chief political correspondent Howard
Fineman, host Don Imus falsely claimed that "it was [executive producer]
Bernard [McGuirk] who said, 'Besa mi culo ... Gordo, [to New Mexico Gov. Bill
Richardson] not me." The phrase loosely translates to "kiss my ass,
fat one," in Spanish. As Media Matters
for America noted at the time, however, Imus echoed McGuirk --
labeled by Media Matters as
"unidentified" -- saying "besa mi culo" at least twice
himself on the February 1 edition of Imus.
Richardson's
mother is Mexican.
Imus touted Giuliani as willing to
"drop [a nuclear weapon] on Mecca"
On the February 6 edition of MSNBC's Imus
in the Morning, host Don Imus claimed that "if we're gonna be
fighting these terrorists through the lives of [8-year-old son] Wyatt Imus'
children," then "it might be good to start with somebody who is
willing to take three big ones and drop one on Mecca, one on Jeddah, and one on
Saudi -- one on Riyadh," all cities in Saudi Arabia. Imus made the point
in response to co-host Charles McCord, who claimed that Imus had "Leon
Klinghoffered John McCain ... in favor of Rudolph Giuliani" during a
private conversation they had the previous evening. Imus has previously claimed
that he will vote for Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) in 2008.
Imus producer referred to Obama's
"Jew-hating name"
On the February 2 edition of MSNBC's Imus
in the Morning, the show's executive producer, Bernard McGuirk,
claimed that Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) has "a Jew-hating name." The
remark followed a flurry of other negative comments from host Don Imus,
McGuirk, and co-host Charles McCord about the presumptive Democratic
presidential candidate, calling Obama a "creep," "a wind-watching
wimp," and "a flip-flopping weasel."
Imus sat by as McCain said Nelson
resigned RNC over Ford ad
Don Imus didn't challenge John McCain's claim that his 2008
presidential campaign manager, Terry Nelson, while serving as head of the
independent expenditure unit of the Republican National Committee,
"realized it was a mistake" to sign off on an ad attacking Tennessee
Democratic Senate candidate Harold Ford Jr. and that Nelson subsequently
"resigned from the group of people who approved of it." In fact,
Nelson has publicly defended the ad, and there is no apparent evidence that
Nelson "resigned" from his RNC position in protest over the ad.
MSNBC's Imus referred to "Jewish
management" of CBS Radio as "money-grubbing bastards"
As the Forward newspaper
reported in a December 8 online article, Don Imus referred to the "Jewish
management" of CBS Radio as "money-grubbing bastards" on the
November 30 broadcast of MSNBC's Imus in the
Morning. Imus was discussing a past conflict with his bosses about
hosting the musical group the Blind Boys of Alabama. Executive producer Bernard
McGuirk asked, "Even if you wear a beanie, how can you not love the Blind
Boys?" Imus continued, "I said, 'They're handicapped, they're black,
and they're blind. How do we lose here?' And then a light bulb just went off
over [the managers'] scummy little heads." CBS Radio owns WFAN, the New York station that is
the flagship for Imus' radio show.
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"F*G" (*=A) meant cigarette in the 60s. "Give me a f*g". Billy Packer is a child of the 60s. Why should he have to apologize for saying that Charlie Rose f*gs out on him, meaning gets out of breath from smoking?
Dumb + Ass =
Dumbass.
As a White American women I must apologize to the African American community for this and many of the other stupid comments that Imus has said. Please forgive us as we have not grown up yet as a people. We have been the cause of so much hurt in many minority communities. We have not realized that we are actually the real minorities , all minority groups combined make a majority. Please pray for us that as a people we will be opened to the truth that we have been fed the terrible lie that we are better than everyone else. If we were better than, then I would guess that we would be much more excepting of other cultures. So please forgive us for our ignorance. And may God protect and be with you all
Imus is noted for his racist views and comments. It is unfortunate that ratings whores get so much attention. Each time they receive attention, whether it be negative or positive, for their outrageous comments, it simply fuels their greed.
That is why Imus' comments simply flow around me. It is like ascribing significance to the bleatings of a CLOWN.
Pretty sad in America that a racist pig like Imus is popular.
He seems like a big cowardly name caller to me, not a man but a slovenly little bully with a big dirty mouth full of hatred and bile.
He should be put into prison for his hate crimes.
After reading the recent comments, i find it hard to beleive why is it ok for a company like msnbc can make money from the distibution of this man's show, however as soon as he makes another racist remark or get's involved in a name calling round table with the rest of the losers he considers entertaining, the first thing they do is distance themselves from him. We as consumers need to start holding the real criminals responsible for this kind of behavior, if you profit from it, you should be held responsible for it's behavior.
Don Imus as made a career of insulting and offensive remarks and he has made meaningless and unremorseful apologies many tims before! He has really gone to far this time. I would really like to express how I feel about him but then I wouldn´t be much better than he is and you would disregard this e-mail and remove me from your site. So I will hold my tongue and just say this:
GET HIM OFF THE AIR!
I don't watch this show but, sometimes being somewhere I would see it on.
Some spoksperson for M.S.N.B.C. said that W.F.A.N. produces the show it's not their fault yada-yada-yada. I could be wrong but, M.S.N.B.C. might. And let me say again might, be trying to skate on this.
Now! For you folks with the Y.E.S. network on your cable, check this out and see if i'm right. Turn on Imus Monday mornning and check out his studio. Then a little after 1p.m. check out 'The Mike and Mad Dog Show on Y.E.S. which also is produced by W.F.A.N. . Again, check out the studio.
I have not watched the show in a few months but, if I'm right you will see two very different studios. Why?
I just remembered, you might have to wait a day. Mike & The Mad might do their show from Shea if the Mets have their home opener Monday.
Now I could be wrong. I could be off base, but. Maybe M.S.N.B.C. is not totally forthcoming.
And here's one for my conspiracy theory friends. Imus has been the morning man on W.F.A.N. since the late 80's? What was the call letters on a.m. 66 before W.F.A.N.?
ANSWER: W.N.B.C. where Imus was the morning man since at least the 70's. And when the switch got made. Everybody from W.N.B.C. got fired. except Imus. The format changed from music to all sports except Imus, his show stayed the same. Even kept playing music for a while. A non-sports show on a all sports station.
Take it for what it's worth. Maybe nothing, maybe...........
And since everybody is seeing this guy for what he is could you please ponder this.
To look into this man's soul and see anger and hate. And to look at that Imus Ranch for Cancer Kids that Imus and his wife had built with Donations and tax breaks.
There were some questions about how that was built and how it was run. The inquiries went no where but since a lot of people are getting a look into this man's soul today. Maybe those questions should be looked at again.
What a filthy, stinkin', pile of putrid filth this man Imus is...
A TOTAL COWARD. COMPLETE DISGRACE TO EVERYTHING AMERICA STANDS FOR.
One of the real problems with the Imus show is the incessant parade of guests who have some credibility. They are the legitimzers and enablers of this washed-up millionaire geezer.
When Imus is able to get people like Tim Russert, Joe Biden, Evan Thomas, John McCain, John Kerry, A VP of General Motors, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Charles Schumer, etc., to appear either in personor by phone, it gives him credibility. Without his guests, his show is nothing. Imus has zero credibility as anything except a former drug addict and alcoholic. The Imus Ranch for Kids with Cancer is commendable, but not particularly significant. Plus, Imus milks it for everything.
I am so sick of hearing about his goofy, unscientifically proven "green" products, his son Wyatt, his stupid claims about autism being caused by thimerisol, and the patronizing by NBC of his wife, who has so few credentials, that I refuse to even consider the products or services sold by any of the Imus program sponsors. In particular, the recent visit by the GM vice president was the worst sort of pandering, and I for one, just out of principle ,will not ever, ever buy a GM car.
Imus is a crude, boorish, horror of human being. He has not one saving grace, not one. His fake "I was just joking" excuses are tiresome. Charles is a sell-out who must cling to Imus for the money, and Bernard is just an example of how our culture tolerates the trashing of people and values. Bernard is perhaps the worst, but he gets away with it because the entire show has cleverly disguised itself as "we're just kidding" entertainment.
MSNBC should find a replacement for Imus. WFAN and CBS should ditch this A-hole as soon as possible. Responsible sportcasters and journalists have been fired for far, far less than the recent Imus comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team.
It's really time for this turkey to just go and take the entire crew and go live on the ranch. Anyone with an ounce of intelligence and sense of decency must certainly see through the Imus facade.
Just go baby, er, I mean just go Imus.
The power of MMFA has been proven by the successful campaign to at least get MSNBC to have more oversight of their shows, and watch for racist, incendiary language like the one uttered by Imus and co.
Ok...YOU GUYS WONT LET ME SAY WHAT I WANT TO SAY. PROFANITY AND ALL. HERES THE CLEAN VERSION. THOUGH I AM EDUCATED AND FREE, THERE IS A TIME AND PLACE FOR EVERYTHING AND NOW IS THE TIME FOR RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION. IMUS IS AN IDIOT! HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW WHO MAYA ANGELOU IS, BUT YOU HAVE ALL KINDS OF CLICHE STERIO-TYPES TO MENTION ABOUT HOW A YOUNG BLACK RUFFIAN WOULD LOOK.TELL ME THIS HOW DOES A WASHED UP DRUNK CRACK HEAD BECOME A MILLION DOLLAR RADIO SHOW HOST. THATS THE GOOD OLD U.S. OF A FOR YOU. MCGUIRK, HOW DID HE GET THIS JOB, AS A SIDEKICK TO A RACIST? GOLD-TEETH, AND THROWIN' UP CRIP SIGNS, WOW! LAST TIME I CHECKED IT WASN'T GANG SHOOTINGS THAT WERE KILLING KIDS IT WAS CRAZY WHITE KIDS IN TRENCH COATS KILLING AT RANDOM. I WISH IMUS' STUDIOS WERE HERE IN DETROIT, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE DONT JUST LOOK THUGGED OUT WE ARE THUGGED OUT!
i WATCH IMUS EVERY MORNING AND I THOUGHT HE HAD A PRETTY GOOD SHOW BUT WHEN HE MADE THAT STATMENT ABOUT THE RUTGERS BASKETBALL TEAM IT MADE ME FEEL LIKE A TRADER TO MY RACE! I!II NEVER WATCH HIS SHOW AGAIN! THERE HAS BEEN A FEW THINGS OVER THE YEARS THAT WERE SAID ON HIS SHOW BY IMUS OR MGUIRK,OR SID ROSENBURG BUT I JUST DID!nt get it or i over looked it. not any more they should all be fired,in the name of justice I talks out of both sides of his old mans mouth. His apology sucks and is unacceptable I wonder does he and his crew at msnbc teach that kind of garbage to wyatt imus?
Imus is gonna be in the hotseat. Read...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070409/ap_on_re_us/imus_protests
I hate Imus, i dont listen to him, that being said however I really dont understand the sensativity some people have to random on air comments on a show that is attempting to be funny. You have to judge context people especially when it comes to attempts at comedy. Case in point, the "Kramer" incident, that was clearly innappropriate and racist you could tell as soon as you had heard the clip that he had crossed the line. Imus however, looking at it within the context given, was simply rattling off a prescripted attempt at making fun of the rutgers womens basketball team, were his comments stupid and ignorant, yes, were they intended to be, yes, were the comments intended to be humor............ quite obviously. If you think otherwise, boycott john stewart, carlos mencia, dave chappele, david spade, adam sandler, eddie murphy, louis black, gilbert godfrey, jay leno................ If you want examples of their "racism" i can give you thousands. Imus should be fired because his show is boring and unfunny, not over some random commentary.
Let me guess, Imus will soon be going into Rehab, right?!
What a joke!