MSNBC today announced it is dropping Don Imus's morning program after a parade of advertisers suspended sponsorship of his cable TV show and outrage over his racially and sexually insensitive remarks continued to build.
Imus's 35-year career as radio host also appeared to be in jeopardy when a board member at CBS Radio, Imus' employer, said he should be fired after he referred last week to the largely African American Rutgers University's women's basketball team as "nappy headed hos."
In a statement late today, NBC said the decision to drop Imus came after "an ongoing review process" that included "many conversations with our own employees." It added, "Once again, we apologize to the women of the Rutgers basketball team and to our viewers."
Imus's comment about the Rutgers team has brought widespread condemnation and made Imus a touchstone for a national debate about racial prejudice and the coarseness of popular culture. Although few have defended his comments, some, including fellow radio "shock jocks" Opie and Anthony, have supported Imus's freedom of speech and suggested his slur was no worse than the lyrics of popular rap songs.
But the pressure on NBC clearly was building after seven major advertisers said that they would no longer place ads on "Imus in the Morning." Today, American Express Co., Sprint Nextel and General Motors Corp. said they would drop their ads. Yesterday, Staples Inc., Bigelow Tea and Procter & Gamble announced similar moves.
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