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Breaking: MSNBC Boots Imus Off The Cable Air
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 11, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 11, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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The nightmare is partly over: MSNBC has finally decided to drop Don Imus's radio show simulcasteffective immediately. The NBC Nightly News actually had "breaking news" about the decision, and here's the statement from NBC News president Steve Capus:
Effective immediately, MSNBC will no longer simulcast the "Imus in the Morning" radio program. 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.
TVNewser has the internal memo to NBC staffers:
"Over the course of the last week many of you have reached out to me and expressed your strong viewpoints on the Don Imus situation. I've had countless conversations, e-mail exchanges and phone calls with people throughout this company. I've heard you loud and clear. Therefore, we are announcing tonight that MSNBC will no longer simulcast the Imus radio program...
My primary concern has been and always will be the integrity of this division. We are the guardians of the good name of NBC News -- each and every one of us. There has been a trust placed in us. We must honor and respect this trust. That, in short is why we have taken this action."
The new question is whether CBS will join suit and fire Imus, but apparently his radio show generates $20 million in revenue. The Times reported that MSNBC made at least $50 million from ads during Imus in the Morning.
The timeline:
- Wednesday, April 4, Don Imus and his producer Bernard McGuirk call the Rutgers women's basketball team "nappy headed hos" and "hardcore hos"
- Friday, April 6, Imus apologizes, the National Association of Black Journalists demand that he be fired
- Saturday and Sunday, April 7-8, the Reverend Al Sharpton, Reverend Jesse Jackson, NOW, and other groups join in criticism of Imus
- Monday, April 9, CBS and MSNBC decide to suspend Imus for two weeks; Imus also appears on Sharpton's radio program
- Tuesday, April 10, the Rutgers women's basketball team give a press conference, Imus advertisers falls from the MSNBC simulcast
- Wednesday, April 11, more advertisers fall from MSNBC, NBC decides to stop airing his show
Oh, and today, Snoop Dogg weighed in about the controversy to MTV News:
Admittedly, Snoop and some of his peers have called women "b----es" and "ho's" in their lyrics, but as the Dogg put it Tuesday afternoon (April 10), there is no parallel to what Imus said.
"It's a completely different scenario," said Snoop, barking over the phone from a hotel room in L.A. "[Rappers] are not talking about no collegiate basketball girls who have made it to the next level in education and sports. We're talking about ho's that's in the 'hood that ain't doing sh--, that's trying to get a n---a for his money. These are two separate things. First of all, we ain't no old-ass white men that sit up on MSNBC [the cable network home to Imus] going hard on black girls. We are rappers that have these songs coming from our minds and our souls that are relevant to what we feel. I will not let them mutha----as say we in the same league as him."
[Via Newsbusters]
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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