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Vieira Raps Rev. for Racial "Double Standard"

Posted Apr 12th 2007 12:13PM by TMZ Staff

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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91. As long as blacks choose racist criminals as their spokesmen they will never have my respect.

Posted at 1:50PM on Apr 12th 2007 by do it yourself

92. Oh, Lord I so wish that we still had Rev. Martin Luther KIng. He would send the ass holes Sharpton and Jackson to their rooms!

Rev, Martin Luther King was my hero and I am a elderly white woman.

I remember one time he came to our area when I was young and I so wanted to hear him preach but I was afraid I would get killed or raped! I am so serious! My friend (black) would not let me go.

Go away Sharpton and Jackson! You need to apoloige to mr. Imus!

Posted at 1:53PM on Apr 12th 2007 by There I said it!

93. I'm black and I have never voted for a crackhead or theif. And, I don't trust Obama and know other black people who do not plan on voting for him. No one in my family ever voted for Jesse Jackson either. And the only rap music I have ever owned is Common. And in the 80s, as embarrassing as this is, I probably owned an MC Hammer or Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince album.

I agree with the earlier comment - STOP STEREOTYPING.

Posted at 1:51PM on Apr 12th 2007 by Rita

94. #91: NEW YORK: I'm sorry you're hurt by the truth.

Posted at 1:53PM on Apr 12th 2007 by Michele

95. You know I find it interesting how Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson always pop up when someone says anything remotely racist against people of color (btw...there are white girls and other nationalities on the Rutgers team as well)....BUT you don't hear them running to the defense of any other race when racial slurs are thrown by people of color (happens all the time in rap music as well as public events.)

IMPO, Al Sharpton is nothing but a reactionist...he wants air-time. Seems to me the girls from Rutger's U were handling the situation pretty darned well without his or Jesse's help...and they've handled it with class. Don Imus needed to be taken to school to learn a lesson and those young women were just the ones to do it. Sad thing is...it won't make any difference to Imus, he most likely won't change (sad to say.)...but those young women handled the situation with class (all of them.) I say kudos to them, and kudos to Meredith for challenging Al Sharpton as well.

Posted at 1:55PM on Apr 12th 2007 by gel

96. OK OK EMOUGH WITH THAT STATEMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!

He talks about Imus saying it and hell he's stated that phase on National TV more then anyone. Soes he think it doesn't hurt those players to hear it said over and over again. I believe he's doing more harm to those girls then Imus did.

I get sick and tired of hearing all kinds of phase and words that ONLY some people can say but not otherS. If any PHASE OR WORD is wrong, then its WRONG NO MATTER WHO STATES IT. Tired of the double standards.

Al should tell the players that HE IS SORRY for using that phase over and over again.

Imus stated he was wrong and said he was very sorry about what happened. Guess we no longer are the American's that FORGIVE.

Posted at 1:54PM on Apr 12th 2007 by Angry in Florida

97. I DID NOT CHOOSE SHARPTON. The 30 million black Americans did not have a meeting and appoint Al Sharpton to be our spokesperson. We cannot help it if the media constantly goes to him and Jackson to get their comments. We do not control the media. THEY DO NOT SPEAK FOR BLACK PEOPLE. Most of us don't even like them and have no respect for them.

Posted at 1:54PM on Apr 12th 2007 by Michelle

98. WAY TO GO MERIDITH!!!!!!!!!!! SOMEONE TELL Rev. Al Sharpton
HE IS FIRED!!!!!!!!!!!
Rev. Al Sharpton are you going to apologize to the Duke lacrosse players for your comments! You should be FIRED!!!!!!!!!!! OFF TV

Posted at 1:57PM on Apr 12th 2007 by WHO knows???

99. Annette you are so right .I have been saying this for a l.ong long time. these two jerks are real jokers
(Michele) Cosby did not have a child outside.A young lady accused him of being her father and tried to shake him down for forty million dollars. she went to jail and it found through DA that he was not her father .Do you remember that now?

Posted at 2:00PM on Apr 12th 2007 by fiefie

100. Does this mean that George W. Bush, Bill O'Reilly, and Newt Gingrich are the spokespeople for white people?

Posted at 1:57PM on Apr 12th 2007 by Jana

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

Put IMUS back on

Posted at 1:58PM on Apr 12th 2007 by WHO knows???

102. #84, Lisa, the #1 purchaser of rap music is the white male teen population. Check the stats. People seem to think that all people of color have chosen Sharpton and Jackson as the official spokes people for the race that is not so. Many of us have said, if Imus has to pay a price, so do others that spew the same ignorant words. People cannot cheer because Imus has to pay a price, yet give a pass to the rappers that say the same thing. It is wrong. It is time for everyone, black white, purpl eor blue, to check themselves. yes we are free to say whatever we want, but where is decency in all of this?? How is it decent to call any woman a b*tch, regardless of her color??? Just because you can say something doesn't always mean it is smart to say it. It seems like situations like this just give the average person , a cowardly reason to spew hatred, and that is wrong.

Posted at 1:57PM on Apr 12th 2007 by janedoe

103. thank god meredith had the balls to stand up and tell the truth more people like should start

Posted at 1:59PM on Apr 12th 2007 by TEDDY

104. Man you white people are something else. Yes, I agree with Meredith, people like Sharpton need to be raked over the coals for saying nothing and doing nothing substantial to get rid of these foul mouthed rappers. At the same time, how can you, Michele begin to rap on Bill Cosby. Yes the woman SAYS he has a child and maybe he does, so that should stop him from saying what he says about the black community. If he didnt say anything then you would rag about that. GIVE ME A BREAK. Imus should be fired and the black rappers should be dragged from their record labels.

Posted at 7:12AM on Apr 13th 2007 by tonette

105. well i am hispanic and to tell you the truth, when i hear comments about my race or any other it doesnt bother me. For the reason its different generation where everyone makes fun of each others race and most of us laugh about it. Meredith has a good point which the arguement against Imus has no ground. Hip-Hop has this lyrics in most of their music and no one says anything about it. Good Job Meredith!

Posted at 2:03PM on Apr 12th 2007 by tony

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