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Imus to CBS -- You Wanted "Irreverent," Now Pay Up!

Posted May 3rd 2007 10:55AM by TMZ Staff

Don Imus may get the last laugh -- because the contract he signed with CBS seems to court the very behavior that got him fired.

In Imus' multi-year contract with CBS Radio, seen by CNN's Jeffrey Toobin, the shock jock was told by his employer to be "irreverent" and "controversial. " CBS fired Imus for his "nappy-headed hos" comment. The question for a jury: Did Imus give CBS exactly what it wanted?

Imus is still owed $40 mil on the five-year deal. CBS is clearly in a bind, because not only does the contract require Imus to be "irreverent" and "controversial" but the document says those qualities are "desired by Company" and "consistent with Company rules and policies."

The fired shock jock has lawyered up with one of the country's top trial attorneys, Martin Garbus, who says that Imus plans to file a wrongful breach of contract suit against CBS.

Tags: CBS, Don Imus, DonImus

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1. Good, I hope he wins.

Posted at 11:09AM on May 3rd 2007 by Haha suckers

2. Good, they shoud not have fired him for that stupid comment anyways.

Posted at 11:15AM on May 3rd 2007 by Cartman

3. this guy looks so scary.. wow

Posted at 1:14PM on May 3rd 2007 by citychickmag.com

4. I hope Imus gets what's coming to him and MORE. I miss his show sooooo much.

Posted at 10:05AM on May 5th 2007 by Donna

5. I hope he wins too!! Friggen burn on CBS

Posted at 11:13AM on May 3rd 2007 by Blech

6. It is not about winning or losing. Question is does he believe what he said was wrong. He has apoligized for it and it was accepted by many.

Posted at 11:15AM on May 3rd 2007 by Lynn

7. A contract is a contract......hope you win.

Posted at 11:14AM on May 3rd 2007 by Lulu

8. Wow how funny, I don't think that he should have been fired in the first place, Now let's see CBS pay him triple ha ha ha Maybe the Rev. Jackson will help pay him off ha ha Do you think, ????? I bet he doesn't speak up about this

Posted at 11:19AM on May 3rd 2007 by princess

9. While I don't condone Imus' remarks, I don't feel that he should have been fired. If what this information is saying is correct, which I believe it very well may be, Imus deserves the rest of his money...point blank. Like someone above said, "A contract is a contract!"

Posted at 11:18AM on May 3rd 2007 by Traycee

10. You dont sign a $40mill contract without dotting the "I's" and crossing the "T's."

CBS dumped Imus, not out of outrage over his comments, but becuase their revenue base (ie advertisers) were deserting them in droves (advertisers dont want to be tainted by association.)CBS realized Imus's revenue pull was no longer there.

Now CBS, having lost the revenue base, will also have to fork out many $$$ in compensation ... what a pack of losers.

Posted at 11:20AM on May 3rd 2007 by Sucks to be CBS

11. Don't Worry CBS, Al sharpton will help you pay, since you allowed him and jesse jackson to bully you into firing him...HAHA!...good luck dummies!

Posted at 11:23AM on May 3rd 2007 by cassy

12. CBS might be in for a fight on this one!
I hope they have to pay him his remaining contract money -
that face-saving act is going to blow up in their faces!

Posted at 11:33AM on May 3rd 2007 by April

13. GOOD I hope he wins! He should have never gotten fired!

I am so tired of the double standards!!!

Posted at 11:24AM on May 3rd 2007 by whatever

14. You know how you wonder a year after someone has been buried what they look like? Wait, maybe that's just me. Anyway - that was my first impression of this pic of Imus. I always knew he looked like death, the question was, "How dead?" LOL - now I know.

Wow, scary. I'm surprised he landed a hot woman. She'd almost have to have superb acting skills and be on set 24/7 in some sort of zombie movie to live with him. Hand the woman a Grammy already!

Posted at 11:32AM on May 3rd 2007 by JL

15. looks like cbs screwed up big time if that was written in his contract , cbs doesn't have a leg to stand on,

Posted at 11:36AM on May 3rd 2007 by studly

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