Celebrity Feuds
Vieira Raps Rev. for Racial "Double Standard"

Meredith Vieira turned the tables on Rev. Al Sharpton this morning, blasting him for not doing enough to stop black rappers from using words like "ho" and "b**ch" in their lyrics while excoriating Don Imus for doing so. Snap!

Sharpton was on the "Today" show this morning to react to Imus' firing by MSNBC, and the Rev. repeated his contention that Imus' place on the "public" airwaves made him responsible -- and ultimately culpable -- for his "nappy-headed hos" remark. Vieira then challenged Sharpton, demanding to know why he didn't hold hip-hop and rap artists more responsible for "spreading the message" of demeaning and abusive language, and accusing Sharpton of perpetuating a "double standard."

The Rev. explained that his organization, National Action Network, was working to get more rappers with "positive messages" onto the airwaves, but acknowledged that those rappers weren't getting exposure.

Tags: Meredith vieira, MeredithVieira, Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev.AlSharpton, Vieira

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(Page 1 of 27) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

1. Good for Meredith!!!!!Sharpton is an a**hole!!~!

Posted at 12:53PM on Apr 12th 2007 by jojo

2. wow, they care, they must need the ratings.

Posted at 12:53PM on Apr 12th 2007 by pattie

3. Congrats Meredith! For exposing this race trader.

Posted at 12:56PM on Apr 12th 2007 by JM

4. It's funny how Al is able to be on TV every morning this week, but he couldn't be bothered to show up to a scheduled panel discussion on racial slurs at a university last night.

Posted at 12:56PM on Apr 12th 2007 by Mary

5. Thank you Meredith Vieira for asking what I've been asking for a long time about the double standard that rappers can make derogatory remarks about women by calling them bitch and ho.

Posted at 12:57PM on Apr 12th 2007 by Kennedy

6. Shapton is not the only asshole, don't forget Jesse Jackson! Hooray for Meredith!

Posted at 2:08PM on Apr 12th 2007 by annie611

7. oh my isn't meredith 'edgy'.

if she really wants to know about the double standard she should ask the rappers. there is no advertising pressure to leverage with hip hop performers and therefore no public b*tchslap available to administer.

duh

Posted at 1:19PM on Apr 12th 2007 by glee

8. YOU GO.................Meredith Vieira & so right! see, sharpton just wants to be on tv!! he has no morals.

Posted at 7:46PM on Apr 12th 2007 by all4imus2

9. WAY TO GO MERIDITH!!!!!!!!!!! SOMEONE TELL HIM
HE IS FIRED!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 12:59PM on Apr 12th 2007 by ABBY

10. Enough already!!! You would think M.S.N.B.C, allowed a live lynching.

IMUS, is racist and an ass, but he is human. The personal persecution is over-kill,

Now, go after the people in your community who are bringing your own race down.

Praise Bill Cosby, for having the balls to speak the truth.

Jesse Jackson has had how many out-of wedlock children?? He not one to condem another human being.

Sharpton, make some real changes for the black race. Your children go to the worse public schools. Your people live in the worse neighborhoods. Most of the high crome rates comes out of those neighborhoods. No-baby daddys anywhere. Have the mothers raising and doing all the child-rearing.

Instead of worrying about IMUS, this would be my focal point.

Posted at 12:59PM on Apr 12th 2007 by Annette

11. you go girl { black people make fun of black people}

but we as white people can not say the big n word.

Posted at 1:02PM on Apr 12th 2007 by joe russo

12. Let the backlash begin. MSNBC caved to Sharpton and his hateful and divisive racial politics. I can honestly say I missed the interview BECAUSE Sharpton was involved, I invoked my right to the remote control and changed the channel. Don't like it don't listen.

Posted at 1:02PM on Apr 12th 2007 by JM

13. I think why it’s ok for blacks to use those words towards each other, because they are not over the slave thing. I don’t think they every will be. I don’t know why I have to get blame for that when I wasn't even around when it happened.

Posted at 1:02PM on Apr 12th 2007 by melissa

14. There is a double standard. As a black woman, Al Sharpton does not speak for me. I hate hearing anyone refer to us as b!tches or hoes. Rap music degrades women in their lyrics as well as their videos.
Imus has been using disparaging remarks for over 30 yrs. He's attacked Catholics, Jews and anyone else he could think of. He's being made the example.
I'm glad Meredith didn't sugar coat her interview. Good for her.

Posted at 1:03PM on Apr 12th 2007 by Dottie

15. THANK YOU MEREDITH!!!!! way to go!!! There is a double standard that Al Sharpton allows, and if he wants this to stop, he has to be fair to EVERYONE!!!! Also, I don't understand why white people who say and do something stupid always have to apologize to Al Sharpton. Especially since he ignores rappers, etc., saying the same stupid things!!!!

Posted at 1:08PM on Apr 12th 2007 by Janet

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