Don Imus May Sue CBS

Former shock jock Don Imus has made headlines once again with reports he plans to sue CBS Radio for wrongful breach of his contract after the network fired him last month. CNN reported Imus had $40 million left on his contract with CBS. Documents provided to CNN Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin further indicate the network also encouraged Imus to remain "irreverent" and "controversial" on his program.

"Company (CBS Radio) acknowledges that Artist's (Imus') services to be rendered hereunder are a unique, extraordinary, irreverent, intellectual, topical, controversial and personal character and that programs of the same general type and nature containing these components are desired by Company and are consistent with Company rules and policies," the contract stated.

CBS fired Imus last month after he used racist epithets to describe the Rutgers University women's basketball team. Imus had a long and documented history of using racist, homophobic and sexist statements during his decades long career. Activists on both sides will almost certainly continue to debate the post-Imus termination fallout as he seeks to redefine his role. CBS' decision, however, remains a strong and long overdue statement against hate speech that has reignited the debate over its continued presence in the media.

Post-Imus Termination Debate Continues

Media pundits, social commentators, politicians and average Americans continue to weigh in on the fallout from former radio talk show host Don Imus' comments against the Rutgers University women's basketball team. The decision to terminate Imus came as a welcome development among the groups that had urged MSNBC and CBS to remove him from the air. It has sparked a long-overdue national conversation about hate speech but several questions remain unanswered.

"Washington Week" host and former New York Times reporter Gwen Ifill posed one of the most obvious questions yesterday during a rountable on NBC's "Meet the Press." She correctly asked host Tim Russert and Times columnist David Brooks to explain their repeated appearances on Imus' program despite his long history of racist, sexist and homopobic comments. Russert, rather uncomfortably, deplored Imus' comments but also expressed sadness for the former talk show host and his family. He also candidly admitted Imus' program generated "political discussions you don't hear anywhere else." Imus clearly provided an attractive forum for many politicians -- former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani, U.S. Sen. John McCain and former Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry have all appeared on his show -- celebrities and others. But the question remains as to why these public figures seemed to overlook Imus' history of irresponsible comments for their own personal or political gain.

Imus once categorized Ifill as a 'cleaning lady' during an on-air commentary. Yet she rightfully challenged her colleagues to explain their passive support of his comments each time they appeared on his show. These questions are certainly uncomfortable to answer. Yet, answers to these queries are an essential part of the national conversation on the continued tolerance of racism, sexism and homophobia that must continue to take place in light of Imus' comments and his termination.

CBS Fires Don Imus

The inevitable second shoe finally dropped late yesterday afternoon with CBS Radio's decision to fire Don Imus. CBS President and Chief Executive Officer Leslie Moonves said in his statement that announced the shock jock's termination that 'there has been much discussion of the effect language like [that used by Imus to describe the Rutgers University women's basketball team] has on our young people, particularly young women of color trying to make their way in this society' among CBS employees, fellow media professionals and others across the country.

This controversy was never really about the former radio personality. Coach C. Vivian Stringer herself told the New York Times his comments 'are indicative of greater ills in our culture.' Imus should be held accountable for his appauling comments. But the fact remains that his listeners and, to a broader extent, society as a whole should be held equally accountable for their support of such blatant hate speech. Imus is only indicative of the broader society which supports him and his termination will remain that -- his termination -- if the broader issues raised during this past week are not addressed.

Don Imus Sparks More Outrage

Don Imus is at it again! The outspoken radio talk show host sparked his latest outrage last week with his racially insensitive categorization of the Rutgers University women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos." Imus has repeatedly apologized for his comments but both NBC News and CBS Radio yesterday suspended his show for two-weeks.

This man has a long and documented history of charged comments against underrepresented groups. He famously joked the New York Times had let 'the cleaning lady cover the White House' in a pointed reference to now "The News Hour with Jim Lehrer" Senior Correspondent Gwen Ifill. Imus also sparked outrage among lesbian and gay advocacy organizations last year with his description of "Brokeback Mountain" as "Fudgepack Mountain" during an on-air exchange with MSNBC personality Chris Matthews. These sophomoric attempts at humor, and others like them, only serve to generate attention for themselves along the same vein upon which conservative commentator Ann Coulter and others have built their careers. NBC News and CBS Radio are correct to suspend Imus but his latest insult plays into a much broader phenomenon.

Imus is only the latest of a laundry list of commentators, politicians and celebrities -- former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Grey's Anatomy co-star Isaiah Washington and others -- whose comments have sparked controversy. These public figures apologized almost immediately afterwards in a self-serving attempt to quell outrage and condemnation in an exercise of personal repentance. The real issue this phenomenon raises, however, is the fact these comments are a reflection upon the society that continues incubates these racist, sexist and homophobic attitudes in the first place. Imus' comments are certainly not a surprise to those who have been in his comedic cross hairs throughout his career. He should certainly be held to account. But the real challenge is how society can use this incident as an opportunity to remedy its long-held prejudices. This work will certainly take much more effort than a self-serving statement of repentance.