CBS fires Imus effective immediately

NEW YORK, April 12 (UPI) -- CBS has canceled U.S. shock jock Don Imus' radio show over his racist remark about the Rutgers University women's basketball team, the network said Thursday.

The cancellation is effective immediately, The Wall Street Journal said.

In a statement announcing the decision, CBS President and Chief Executive Officer Leslie Moonves the network was upset and repulsed by comments "made on our air" about the Rutgers women's team. Imus has repeatedly apologized for referring to the team as "nappy-headed hos" last week.

Since his slur aired, Moonves said, meetings with concerned groups included discussions on "the effect language like this has on our young people, particularly young women of color trying to make their way in this society.

"That consideration has weighed most heavily on our minds as we made our decision," Moonves said.

"Imus in the Morning" was carried on 61 stations across the United States and distributed over the Westwood One radio network.

Moonves said the cancellation offered a "significant opportunity to expand on our record on issues of diversity, race and gender."

CBS' actions follow by a day NBC's decision to cancel its simulcast of "Imus in the Morning" on MSNBC, a cable television channel.