Only a few days after announcing that they would be suspending him for two weeks, MSNBC has dropped Don Imus from it’s lineup entirely:
NEW YORK (CNN) — MSNBC has canceled its “Imus in the Morning” simulcast, the network announced Wednesday.
The decision comes following remarks deemed racist and sexist that radio talk-show host Don Imus made last week about the Rutgers women’s basketball team that prompted a number of advertisers to drop the program.
The NBC News statement said:
“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. What matters to us most is that the men and women of NBC Universal have confidence in the values we have set for this company. This is the only decision that makes that possible. Once again, we apologize to the women of the Rutgers basketball team and to our viewers. We deeply regret the pain this incident has caused.”
In reality, of course, the very fact that MSNBC was simulcasting a morning radio show was an indication that they didn’t have anything to put on the morning that would’ve done any better in the ratings. Otherwise, the idea of watching a radio show on the television is, when you think about it for a second, somewhat silly.
Nonetheless, this is the latest shoe to drop on Imus. It’s happened fast, but that’s the way things happen in our hyperspeed society. The next question to be answered is whether he’ll have a radio show at all by the time this is over.
April 11th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Being critical is one thing, but this stuff scares me. Imus has said more than his fair share of stupid things in the past, but he gets fired for one thing.
Clearly, racism (intended or not) is the one unforgivable sin now, and political correctness is the Word we must follow. Unless, of course, you are a rapper, in which case it is a part of your culture.
April 11th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
It’s purely a business decision as I see it.
Major sponsors are cutting ties and, quite honestly, his ratings were never that great to begin with.
And I’m still wondering why people thought he was funny.
April 12th, 2007 at 11:26 am
The Easter Thursday Knucklehead Festival Part 3
Our third winner today is talk show host Don Imus.
April 12th, 2007 at 11:51 am
[...] Yesterday, MSNBC said that it would not longer simulcast the Don Imus show. [...]