Don Imus
Don Imus, the controversial host of the long-running Imus in the Morning radio show, has passed away at the age of 79. According to a statement from Imus’s family, he was hospitalized on Christmas Eve and died this morning (12/27).
Imus got his start as a musician, before breaking into radio in 1968. After working at multiple stations throughout California, as well as a stop in Cleveland, Imus arrived in New York in 1971 at WNBC-AM. Imus gained a reputation for creating controversy through his brash style and outrageous stunts as one of the earliest “shock jocks.” He released multiple comedy albums as well over the years, featuring characters and songs from his show. Imus in the Morning went national in 1973, but he was fired in 1977 and returned to Cleveland. However, he returned to WNBC just two years later, where he crossed paths with Howard Stern. The two appeared on each others’ shows over the years, while also cultivating a well-publicized rivalry.
Imus made national headlines in 2007 when he insulted members of the Rutgers University women’s basketball team with a racial slur. The tone was not out of the ordinary for Imus, who had used racially charged language on his program for years. However, this time it cost him his job, as MSNBC pulled the plug on its simulcast of Imus in the Morning and CBS Radio fired him soon after, which led to a legal battle between the parties. Imus soon resurfaced on Citadel‘s WABC/New York and Imus in the Morning was simulcast on Fox Business Network from 2008-2015 as well.
He was diagnosed with stage 2 prostate cancer in 2009 and announced his retirement from radio early in 2018.
Imus and his wife Deirdre also famously founded the Imus Ranch in 1999, where children suffering from cancer could enjoy the outdoors during the summertime. The ranch was eventually sold, with the proceeds also going to multiple charities.
