# Imus: Groveling isn't pretty **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 9, 2007, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292 "2007-04-09T11:57:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/21 "2007-04-09T21:36:00Z")
He could just cop out and say “I’ll go to therapy”, like the Scrubs guy and Mel Gibson. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/22 "2007-04-09T22:16:44Z")
[QUOTE=HubZilla] He could just cop out and say “I’ll go to therapy”, like the Scrubs guy and Mel Gibson. [/QUOTE] I believe that you mean “the Gray’s Anatomy guy”, not the Scrubs guy (unless there’s been another foot-in-mouth epidemic I’m unaware of). ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/23 "2007-04-09T22:30:45Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] I personally like Al Sharpton, but when did it become standard to have to sit down with him when you offend the black community? There are dozens of reputable black reporters who could do the interview. [/QUOTE] Can you name two dozen nationally know black reporters, who aren’t primarily sports reporters? Personally, I think instead of Sharpton or Jesse, they should have to go on Oprah and let her take them to the woodshed like she did that writer. ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/24 "2007-04-09T22:58:12Z")
[QUOTE=Lightray] I believe that you mean “the Gray’s Anatomy guy”, not the Scrubs guy (unless there’s been another foot-in-mouth epidemic I’m unaware of). [/QUOTE] Yes, er, no… I mean I was just “testing you”. You win! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/25 "2007-04-09T23:05:38Z")
Is is me or does Imus sound like he’s doing a bad impression of Harry Caray these days? ---
**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/26 "2007-04-09T23:27:11Z")
CNN reporting that he has received a two week suspension. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/27 "2007-04-09T23:45:45Z")
Couldn’t he just buy some Hate Speech Offset Credits somewhere? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/28 "2007-04-09T23:49:42Z")
[QUOTE=WordMan] Yep - there’s the whole “well, you’ve said a racial slur against African-Americans - who do you apologize to?” requirement - it’s, like, Spin Control 101 when the crisis hits or something… [/QUOTE] Well, if I can share one anecdote on the topic… I happened to watch a few seconds of Fox NY this afternoon while I was working out, and Fox asked a couple of people what they thought about Imus’ apology. The third and most amusing comment came from a black man who said something like “Why does everybody who wants to apologize to black people talk to Sharpton?” A black guy in the gym almost busted a gut laughing. ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/29 "2007-04-10T01:00:56Z")
[NY Times transcript of Imus’s trip to the woodshed on the Sharpton show](http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/09/business/media/09imus_transcript.html?pagewanted=1) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/30 "2007-04-10T01:49:19Z")
Weirder still, why not apologize with assistance from a black feminist? After all, he did call them ‘hos.’ Or is that less objectionable? 'cause half the coverage I’ve heard/read doesn’t hint at anything but racism. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/31 "2007-04-10T04:13:25Z")
He can always join with [Greaseman](http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_16_95/ai_54731434) on a ‘say the wrong thing’ tour. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/32 "2007-04-10T10:32:29Z")
Why is he not apologising in person to the women of the team he actually insulted? ---
**Author:** ![Brandon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f08c70/32.png) [@Brandon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brandon)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/33 "2007-04-10T11:15:21Z")
[QUOTE=MrDibble] Why is he not apologising in person to the women of the team he actually insulted? [/QUOTE] I heard he was going to meet with them. I think it’s bad enough that he’s a jackass who has to rely on shock value to gain viewers. But with the way he’s acting now he’s showing that he’s also a man who cannot take responsibility for his words (or why he said them), how ever wrong they may be. There’s a huge difference between making an apology and trying to weasel your way out of the repercussions of your actions. He knew what he was doing the whole damn time, he shouldn’t try to spin a plethora of bullshit. A man his age (especially one involved in media) should understand the power behind everything he says and if he can’t handle the implications of what’s said, he shouldn’t say it. I don’t understand why he feels compelled to essentially go on a “Repentance Tour” for this. Apologize (if you sincerely feel you did something wrong, don’t be a chump and do it because there’s pressure to do so), take your lickings like a man, and get on with your life. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/34 "2007-04-10T11:42:16Z")
I find it amazing that imus had to apologize to Sharpton, a man who has no regard for truth. Sharpton participated in a massive lie (the Tawana Brawley case), and actively participated in a smear campaign against a policeman and a detective. he has NEVER (to my knowledge) evera apologized, or even admitted that he lied So, its one liar apologizing to another liar-big deal! ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/35 "2007-04-10T11:46:23Z")
I don’t think Imus is fundamentally bad, but he said an incredibly bad thing. He has to accept the consequences for that, and I think he has. As much as I like Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, I think they’re going a little over the top in their reaction. If we all can forgive and forget Jackson about “Hymietown”, then I think at some point Imus should be allowed another chance. ---
**Author:** ![Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoundrel_Swanswater)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/36 "2007-04-10T12:11:28Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] I personally like Al Sharpton, but when did it become standard to have to sit down with him when you offend the black community? There are dozens of reputable black reporters who could do the interview. [/QUOTE] But, but, but… he is the emperor of black people… 😃 (Obligatory South Park reference) ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/37 "2007-04-10T13:04:15Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] I find it amazing that imus had to apologize to Sharpton, a man who has no regard for truth. Sharpton participated in a massive lie (the Tawana Brawley case), and actively participated in a smear campaign against a policeman and a detective. he has NEVER (to my knowledge) evera apologized, or even admitted that he lied So, its one liar apologizing to another liar-big deal! [/QUOTE] Here here. The last thing I saw with him about this, years after it was proven to be a total hoax, he said that no matter the “facts” he did not believe a girl that age would smear feces on herself, etc. to get out of minor trouble, and never would. Even when it was proven the feces was from a neighborhood dog IIRC. And I forgot all about the hymietown thing- what would happen if a white celebrity referred to Detroit or somewhere as niggertown I wonder? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/38 "2007-04-10T13:26:47Z")
[QUOTE=MrDibble] Why is he not apologising in person to the women of the team he actually insulted? [/QUOTE] He wants to meet with them and was asking someone to assist in setting that up. The team and others from Rutgers are going to hold a news conference at 11 am ET to address the situation. Matt Lauer had Al Sharpton and Imus on together; Lauer gave Imus both barrels, as did Sharpton. Sharpton made a good point. Imus is trying to make this all about Imus. My observation is that everything is \*always \* about Imus, which is part of the reason I no longer watch him (though I’ve been watching this week to see how he handles this incident). If he manages to survive this, I hope his show changes drastically. There are plenty of people to make fun of in the political arena; the edginess doesn’t have to disappear. This recurring theme of coming right up to the line (and in my opinion, frequently crossing it) with regard to both women and race isn’t entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/39 "2007-04-10T13:30:33Z")
And I forgot all about the hymietown thing- what would happen if a white celebrity referred to Detroit or somewhere as niggertown I wonder? [/QUOTE] I know! The double standard is utterly idiotic! ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/40 "2007-04-10T14:12:49Z")
Excuse me while I go to the cubbord and serve myself a healthy portion of Who Gives-A-Fuck[sup]TM[/sup]. I don’t think what Imus said is particularly bad. It’s certainly no worse than the kind of racial humor that has been on Howard Stern, The Chapelle Show, Southpark, Borat and a dozen other programs for years. So he called the Rutgers girls basketball team a bunch of “nappy headed hos”. Boo hoo. The difference is that Howard Stern is unappolagetic in his assholery. He would likely respond to the controversy with a tirade about Jacksons hypocracy and and offensive sketch featuring Sharpton and the Rutgers girls b-ball team. And I love that Meredith Vieira called out Jesse Jackson on the Today Show this morning for his “hymietown” remark. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292.md?page=3)