After news broke that shock radio host Don Imus died, some took to social media to criticize him and his controversial remarks.
Imus, who died on Friday at 79, was the longtime host of the radio show Imus in the Morning. He was a figure who pushed the boundaries of radio and was known for attacking political figures, celebrities, and minority groups. Despite his controversies, Imus was also regarded as a pioneer in his field and was a philanthropist.
Following his death, some on Twitter drew attention to Imus’s past remarks, including in 2007 when he referred to the Rutgers University women’s basketball team as “nappy headed hos.”
Don Imus has died at the age of 79.
Here him and his cohost calling the young black women of a college basketball team “nappy headed hoes” and “jigaboos”
I’m sure there are people in his life who mourn his loss but I’m not one of them. pic.twitter.com/Vj7AYUJJMa
— chris evans (@notcapnamerica) December 27, 2019
“Controversial” is an interesting way to say that Don Imus called the women’s Rutgers basketball teams “nappy headed hoes” and “jigaboos”.
Good riddance. https://t.co/O1VWeG43sW
— Frederick Joseph (@FredTJoseph) December 27, 2019
“Don Imus has died. A victory for nappy headed hos everywhere,” writer and actress Rae Sanni wrote.
Don Imus has died. A victory for nappy headed hos everywhere.
— Rae Sanni (@raesanni) December 27, 2019
I’ll never forget when Don Imus called the Rutgers women’s basketball team “nappy-headed hos” and “Jigaboos”….bye.
— Yesha (@YeshaCallahan) December 27, 2019
Journalist Yashar Ali pointed out that he knows some women who have accused Imus of sexual harassment. He also compared the radio host to disgraced Fox News CEO Roger Ailes, who was accused of rampant sexual harassment.
Don Imus was a racist and misogynist. He sexually harassed multiple women I know personally.
Was he a pioneer in his field? Sure. So was Roger Ailes.
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) December 27, 2019
Comedian Nick Jack Pappas wrote, “Yes, Don Imus may have been a racist, he may have been a misogynist, he may have been fired for gross racial slurs, but he’s also dead. Bye.”
Radio host Neal Boortz criticized Southwest Florida’s WINK News for its coverage of Imus’s death.
Thanks for your completely negative coverage of the death of Don Imus. Not ONE word about his charitable efforts. @winknews
— Neal Boortz (@Talkmaster) December 27, 2019
Imus is survived by his wife Deirdre, daughters Nadine, Ashley, Elizabeth, and Toni, and sons Wyatt and Zachary Don Cates.
“Don loved and adored Deirdre, who unconditionally loved him back, loved spending his time watching Wyatt become a highly skilled, champion rodeo rider and calf roper, and loved and supported Zachary, who first met the Imus family at age 10 when he participated in the Imus Ranch program for kids with cancer, having battled and overcome leukemia, eventually becoming a member of the Imus family and Don and Deirdre’s second son,” the Imus family said in a statement.
