| General Motors Corp. joined other sponsors that | | | | lost an NCAA Championship game the night |
| are pulling ads from the "Imus in the Morning" | | | | before. He referred to the athletes with the slur |
| program following last week's controversial | | | | "nappy-headed hos." |
| comments of the jock about African Americans | | | | The next day Imus issued a brief apology but |
| as well as female college athletes. | | | | retort to the derogatory dialogue on his show |
| GM said it will stop advertising during the Imus | | | | continued throughout the weekend. On Monday a |
| show. The show originated on the CBS-owned | | | | visibly shaken Imus offered a longer on-air mea |
| WFAN in New York and is syndicated nationwide. | | | | culpa, describing himself as a "good person" who |
| The program also is simulcast daily on the MSNBC | | | | "said a bad thing." But the mea culpa failed to |
| cable television channel. GM in 2006 was the top | | | | appease many critics. These critics pointed to |
| advertising spender at MSNBC overall and during | | | | comparable misogynistic and racist remarks Imus |
| the Imus program, according to TNS Media | | | | and his staff have made in the past. |
| Intelligence. | | | | The Rev. Al Sharpton, the NAACP Chairman Julian |
| The automaker issued a statement that stated: | | | | Bond, and others have called for the ouster of |
| "General Motors obviously does not condone the | | | | Imus, who nonetheless appeared on Sharpton's |
| comments Don Imus recently made in reference | | | | Monday broadcast. Imus, up until now, continues |
| to the Rutgers University women's basketball | | | | to convey his remarks and apologies to the |
| team. Mr. Imus has publicly apologized, and | | | | players and their families. The Rutgers basketball |
| admitted his comments were 'completely | | | | players and their coach held a press conference |
| inappropriate and offensive.' He has also stated his | | | | Tuesday and agreed to meet with the radio host. |
| intention to make changes to his show. We | | | | "This young team fought through immeasurable |
| acknowledge and welcome these actions. We | | | | odds to reach the highest pinnacle and play for |
| have decided, however, to suspend our | | | | the school's first national championship in a major |
| advertising while we continue to monitor the | | | | sport," said C. Vivian Stringer, the coach of the |
| situation." | | | | team. "To serve as a joke of Mr. Imus in such an |
| In 2006, the largest automaker spent an | | | | insensitive manner creates a wedge and makes |
| estimated $692,000 purchasing commercial time | | | | light of the efforts of these classy individuals, |
| during the MSNBC simulcast of the Imus program. | | | | both as women and as women of color." |
| The ads were not as simple and affordable as | | | | CBS and MSNBC have said they will punish Imus |
| those of Volvo car parts for it does mean that | | | | by suspending the program for two weeks |
| they include a heftier sum. Overall, the automaker | | | | starting April 16. Procter & Gamble, |
| spent $7.95 million at MSNBC. The data was | | | | office-supply chain Staples Inc. and other sponsors |
| divulged by TNS. Other top sponsors of Imus | | | | already have pulled their commercials from the |
| include Sprint Nextel Corp., PetMed Express Inc., | | | | program. The decision was made notwithstanding |
| Verizon Communications Inc. and drug maker | | | | Imus' repeated apologies and promises of reform. |
| GlaxoSmithKline PLC. Spokesmen for the Ford | | | | GM intimated it will carry on its support to Imus' |
| Motor Co. and the Chrysler Group said that those | | | | charitable efforts that cover work with sick and |
| car companies do not advertise during the Imus | | | | disabled children. Ryndee S. Carney, the GM |
| show, but said that it is possible some of their | | | | spokeswoman, said the automaker has donated |
| dealers may independently buy spots in their local | | | | vehicles for use at The Imus Ranch, a nearly |
| markets. | | | | 4,000-acre cattle station in New Mexico. The |
| On April 4, Imus, along with producer and sidekick | | | | ranch is used to offer kids with cancer and other |
| Bernard McGuirk, bantered about the Rutgers | | | | diseases a 'cowboy experience. |
| University women's basketball team which had | | | | |