Legendary US breakfast announcer Don Imus has been suspended from both the radio and television airwaves and is now facing the sack over racist comments made on his program.

Imus presents his morning show on WFAN New York, however most of his national audience comes from a simulcast on the MSNBC cable television network.

The comments were made about eight black female members of the Rutgers University NCAA basketball team who had lost the championship the night before. Imus joked the girls were “tattooed” and a bunch of “nappy-headed hos”,

The comments instantly stirred up a firestorm of protest from black political activists including Jessie Jackson and Rev Al Sharpton, and have reignited the debate about racism in American broadcast media.

Listen to Imus’ racist comments

The National Association of Black Journalists has demanded Imus’ immediate removal from the airwaves, however in a statement yesterday, MSNBC says:

Beginning Monday, April 16, MSNBC will suspend simulcasting the
syndicated “Imus in the Morning” radio program for two weeks. This comes
after careful consideration in the days since his racist, abhorrent
comments were made.

Don Imus has expressed profound regret and embarrassment and has made a
commitment to listen to all of those who have raised legitimate expressions of outrage. In addition, his dedication – in his words – to change the discourse on his program moving forward, has confirmed for us that this action is appropriate. Our future relationship with Imus is contingent on his ability to live up to his word.

The previously scheduled Imus radiothon in support of the Tomorrow’s
Children’s Fund, the CJ Foundation for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
research and the Imus Ranch will air, as scheduled, this Thursday and
Friday on MSNBC.

Listen to Imus’ apology to Rutgers players