Jun 23, 2008 6:50 pm US/Central
Don Imus Once Again Brings Race To Airwaves
Questionable Observation Issued During Discussion About Troubled NFL Star Adam 'Pacman' Jones
Shock Jock Says In Statement He Was 'Misunderstood'
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Imus made what some are considering a questionable comment during a discussion about oft-troubled NFL player Adam "Pacman" Jones, who wants to drop his nickname. (File)
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
It appears "shock jock" Don Imus may not have learned his lesson following last year's "nappy-headed ho" debacle.
In an audio file of the Monday, June 23, edition of his talk radio program, "Imus In The Morning," heard in New York on WABC-AM in New York City, Imus made what some consider a questionable comment during a discussion about oft-troubled NFL player Adam "Pacman" Jones, who wants to drop his nickname.
When Imus' co-host Warner Wolf informed Imus that the suspended Dallas Cowboys cornerback had been arrested a slew of times during his young career, Imus appeared to imply that Jones' race may have been a reason why.
The conversation went as follows:
Wolf: "Defensive back Adam 'Pacman' Jones, recently signed by the Cowboys. Here's a guy suspended all of 2007 following a shooting in a Vegas night club."
Imus: "Well, stuff happens. You're in a night club, for God's sake. What do you think's gonna happen in a night club? People are drinking and doing drugs, there are women there, and people have guns. So, there, go ahead."
Wolf: "He's also been arrested six times since being drafted by Tennessee in 2005."
Imus: "What color is he?"
Wolf: "He's African-American."
Imus: "Well, there you go. Now we know."
In the face of criticism that ensued, Imus said Monday that he had been misunderstood.
"I meant that he was being picked on because he's black," Imus said in a statement released by his spokesman.
The Rev. Al Sharpton issued the following statement regarding Imus' comment:
"It has been reported to me that statements were made by Mr. Imus this morning and National Action Network has monitored his show since his return. I find the inference of his remark disturbing because it plays into stereotypes. Any use of stereotypes is always counterproductive. We will determine in the next day or so whether or not his remark warrants direct action on our part as we did in April of last year."
Imus' long running program on New York radio station WFAN, of course, was canceled by CBS Radio last April after the host made his infamous disparaging remark about the Rutgers women's basketball team, calling them "nappy-headed hos."
He returned to the airwaves in December when Citadel Broadcasting Corp. announced it would bring back his program, now distributed nationally by ABC Radio.
ABC Radio declined to comment and said Imus would address the issue Tuesday morning on his show.
At this point, there doesn't seem to be anything the famed shock jock can say that will satisfy NYC Councilman Charles Barron.
"Here is a man who does not belong on the airwaves. He belongs in therapy," Barron told CBS station WCBS-TV in New York City on Monday night. "He is blatantly racist he never should have been allowed back on the radio."
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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