Imus Fired from MSNBC

After a week of controversy, Don Imus was dropped from MSNBC. His television show Imus in the Morning has been one of the most highly rated morning shows on television. It has been one week since the controversy exploded in which Imus referred to the Rutgers University women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos."

NBC had initially stated that Imus would be suspended for two weeks while they further investigated the matter. However, when several major sponsors, including Staples, General Motors, Sprint Nextel, GlaxoSmithKline, Procter & Gamble, PetMed Express, American Express and Bigelow Tea pulled their advertisements from his show, NBC changed its mind and dropped Imus completely. CBS radio continues to employ Imus, and is currently standing by the original plan to suspend him for two weeks while they continue to investigate the matter further.

The firing comes after pressure to do so came from many high profile groups and individuals. Senator Barack Obama expressed his belief that Imus should be removed, saying that Imus's racist comment was exactly the type of harmful discrimination that his two young daughters have to face in America today. Another demand for Imus to be dropped from NBC came from the Today Show weatherman Al Roker, who wrote a commentary on the show's website.

Several high profile groups, such as the National Organization for Women, the Feminist Majority, and the Reverand Al Sharpton called for his dismissal.

Imus had apologized publicly for his comment, which was perceived by many as racist and sexist. He had also agreed to meet face to face with women from the Rutger's basketball team to apologize in person and discuss the issue. The meeting had been arranged after the team requested to meet with Imus to hear an apology directly from him rather than simply seeing it on television. The meeting was yet to happen when MSNBC decided to fire Imus.