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Imus: I'm No Mel Gibson

Posted Apr 10th 2007 10:28AM by TMZ Staff

Don Imus isn't ready to be the next Michael Richards.
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The radio host was on "Today" this morning where Matt Lauer -- who Imus mistakenly called "Mark" -- grilled him about the similarities between calling the Rutgers women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos" and the racial tirades of Mel Gibson and Michael Richards.

"There's a world of difference between what Mel Gibson did, Michael Richards and the guy from "Grey's Anatomy" [Isaiah Washington]," said Imus, "we have to understand that I have a record of a relationship with the African American community whether Reverend Sharpton likes it or not."

He also said he runs a "comedy show," making the comments OK in his mind, and wants to get a black co-host for the show to "add some perspective."

The Rutgers women's basketball team is currently holding a press conference where the school's president called Imus' words "despicable" and "offensive," adding "racism and sexism have no place in our society ... they [the team] did nothing to invite the words Don Imus used."

Tags: Don Imus, DonImus

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1. i do not understand this crap!!!! rosie o donell can say anything she wants against the united states on live t v and not get punished!!!!! why is this!!!!! oh i think i thought of the answer... she is gay and can say whatever she wants cause if she gets fired or suspended the words around the world will be she got fired cause she's gay!!!!!!! she is nothing but a fat biatch ho ho hoe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 12:24PM on Apr 10th 2007 by rosie is not right!!!!!!

2. within the next 5 yrs. they will either be escorts and/or strippers . they will beg to be on
the howard stern show...

Posted at 1:45PM on Apr 10th 2007 by gods honest truth

3. Anyone who has listened to Don Imus for any amount of time, knows that he says shocking things about people, groups, etc., ALL THE TIME. His show is "his little kingdom" and nobody, and I mean nobody, dares to disagree with him on that show. That's why I stopped listening long ago. There is no dialog happening. All his little lackeys just agree with him.

It's really not surprising that he went "over the edge". I saw this coming years ago. I have long since stopped listening to him because his attitude was such a turn off and who wants to hear a show where nobody dares to disagree with the host? Borning.

Frankly, I'm thrilled he got busted. Maybe it'll put a little humility into the guy -- but I doubt it.

Posted at 12:32PM on Apr 10th 2007 by Aspen

4. Don Imus do not have any relationship with the African Americams. He once referred to Gwen Ifill as a "maid" rather than a reporter, while she was employed by NBC. He will always have a job because of the Ad Revenue, but for people like me he does not exsist. He just confirms what we already know and he shpuld be met with SILENCE. Afro Americans should ignore his ugly ass and get on with their lives and the women on the aforementioned basket ball team . They have nothing to worry about , because they are so so MORALLY SUPERIOR to him.

Thanks

Posted at 11:32AM on Apr 24th 2007 by Coolkidd

5. He hates everyone, he's bitter and who wouldn't be with that ugly mug, he looks like a flippin' camel

Posted at 1:57PM on Apr 10th 2007 by DRMcCoy

6. Why is there all of this outrage for his comment but not for Isiah Washington? I don't understand the double standard. Why didn't Isiah Washington go on Al Sharpton's show and apologize to gay people?

Posted at 2:39PM on Apr 10th 2007 by Leslie

7. Imus now looks like an old woman physically and I don't know in what era his mind is stuck. He should consider the strong possibility that his time in the limelight is over and that he's no longer relevant.

Posted at 1:02PM on Apr 10th 2007 by DonaldR

8. While I in NO WAY think what Imus said was ok....if you have listened to his radio show for any length of time you would know that this is his "schtick"...he abuses everyone, which is something I have found unappealling and no longer listen to him. However, if we DO insist that people are racially and "politically correctly" censored on "free" radio, regardless of who they are - Opie and Anthony, Whoopi Goldberg, Imus to Steve Harvey, then we have lost who we are supposed to be as a country. Unfortunately, the price for freedom of speech is what we are seeing here. We are not always going to like what someone says, but as of today, they still have the right to say it. Remember, if we start to censor people we don't like, then we start to erode our own personal rights and freedoms. And the true color in America IS green. If enough people don't listen to him, he will lose his popularity and in turn lose his show, but do you really think this will happen? This story is really more about us as a country than just Imus.

Posted at 3:21PM on Apr 10th 2007 by jerseygirl

9. 6. Don Imus do not have any relationship with the African Americams. He once referred to Gwen Ifill as a "maid" rather than a reporter, while she was employed by NBC. He will always have a job because of the Ad Revenue, but for people like me he does not exsist. He just confirms what we already know and he shpuld be met with SILENCE. Afro Americans should ignore his ugly ass and get on with their lives and the women on the aforementioned basket ball team . They have nothing to worry about , because they are so so MORALLY SUPERIOR to him.

Thanks

Posted at 1:07PM on Apr 10th 2007 by Coolkidd

african americans or harlem americans...

Posted at 9:30PM on Apr 10th 2007 by gods honest truth

10. He's no Mel Gibson, but he is about 200 yrs old.

Posted at 4:17PM on Apr 10th 2007 by Tracy

11. First of all to Cool kid!You really should take a course in spelling!Don Imus has done more for children and our soldiers than anyone in the United States!He has a checkered past and does not mind telling everyone about it!He may be a little over the top,but he is still the most watched talk show host on morning TV!So he made a mistake,get over it!I have.I will keep watching him and forgive him!!!!!His wife and him do very good things.Check out all they have done for people.People,people, people have a little love in your hearts!There are a lot worse things going on in the world than Don Imus!
By a Texas fan who watches everyday

Posted at 2:46PM on Apr 10th 2007 by J. Mc

12.
Diamond in the rough?...that's a rather lame excuse.

He's been around long enough (too long) to be a bit more polished.

Posted at 1:04AM on Apr 11th 2007 by Auntie Em

13. How come when a white person says something about African Americans there are huge press conferences and the racist card is ALWAYS played but when African Americans makes jokes about whites its funny?

Posted at 2:20PM on Apr 10th 2007 by hmmm

14. Imus has been a phony in so many ways for so long, from his "long hair", which unlike the majority of older men has never changed or thinned over the years(his brother Fred is bald as a bat) and still shows no discernable hairline or scalp, to his phoney Imus Ranch for kids with cancer, which was featured in Architectural Digest. The ranch is a luxurious, palacial estate which hosts children for only 3 or 4 months a year, but which is really a vanity project built with tax free donations destined to serve as his vacation and plush retirement home.
Compare this Southwest Palace to Paul Newman' s , Hamilton Jordan's or any other such camp for stricken children.

Posted at 3:38PM on Apr 10th 2007 by windchill

15. I watch Imus every morning also. It is a COMIC program people, and he has offended everyone at some time or another. I may not agree with his comment, but that girl's team did look rough, like right off the streets of South Central. And those tatoos-you're not allowed tats that large in the Marines. He made a big mistake going on Al Sharpton's show. He has no history of de-fussing any situtation. Enough already.

Posted at 3:40PM on Apr 10th 2007 by odonnao

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