Suspended Imus slams NBC News

Don Imus, the shock jock radio host suspended by MSNBC and CBS Radio after he uttered a racial slur last week, has lashed out at NBC anchors Matt Lauer and Brian Williams.

Imus, who called the Rutgers women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos", appeared on NBC's flagship breakfast news show Today for an interview with host Matt Lauer and the Reverend Al Sharpton. Since Imus' suspension begins the week of April 16 due to radiothon commitments, the host had already been on MSNBC that morning and the interview was simulcast on both TV channels.

The interview, which was initially between Imus and Lauer proceeded normally until the Today host recalled a previous incident in which a racist comment went out as part of Imus' show. The radio host responded angrily, stating that Lauer was attempting to "pin" the incident on him.

As the interview progressed, the Reverend Al Sharpton was brought in to participate. Sharpton has led calls for Imus to be fired over the incident, and Imus appeared on Sharpton's radio show over the Easter holiday to apologise. Sharpton reiterated his calls for Imus to be fired. Imus then attempted to place his remarks into context, saying that the phrase was used by black men to disparage women. At that point Lauer asked Sharpton, as an African-American leader, to respond; it was then revealed that Imus had agreed with Phil Griffin, senior president of NBC News, that he would not debate Sharpton. "I invited Sharpton to appear on my programme and he didn't have the courage that I had," he added. "I asked him to appear on my programme but he said he didn't want to appear on the scene of the crime. I told Phil and everyone that I have no intention of debating him."

He reiterated that the black community should be better represented in the media and that he is a good person who made a mistake. Sharpton said that Imus was correct that the statements were used by black men but said that that didn't excuse Imus.

Once the interview concluded, Imus was critical of his interview experience on his radio show, which was simulcast on MSNBC. He said that the reason he would not participate in a debate was because he "knew" that Lauer "is going to be on Reverend Sharpton's side". He added, of a report on the NBC Nightly News last night during which his suspension was announced: "I thought the report that NBC News did ... with Brian Williams was disgraceful."