Train Wrecks
MSNBC: "Sluts" OK, "Hos" Not

Four years before Neanderthal Don Imus got tossed by MSNBC, an on-air Michael Savage called one of his own colleagues a "slut" who "looks like she went from porno into reporting" -- and nothing happened. Don Imus, Ashleigh Banfield
Ashleigh Banfield was with MSNBC in 2003 when Savage, whom she never met, ripped her on MSNBC's airwaves. Banfield was watching live at the time and immediately went to her bosses to ask for some kind of response. She got nothing.

"I am not sure if a lot of people understand what it feels like to be publicly besmirched by your own team," Banfield told TMZ. "But then to have nothing happen, to have no consequences because of it, is doubly painful."

Imus was dropped after he referred to the Rutgers women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos." Savage was let go from MSNBC later in 2003 when he said a caller should "get AIDS and die."

Banfield, now with Court TV, says that MSNBC should be commended for not ducking the issue and for taking a stand. "I think it's an extraordinarily difficult decision that MSNBC had to make. But I do think that it's a very bold one and I think they should be applauded for not trying to sweep an issue under the carpet ... I wish they'd taken a bold stand when I was getting ripped in two on the air. " Better late than never.



Tags: ashleigh banfield, AshleighBanfield, don imus, DonImus

Reader Comments

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91. My God, heaven Almighty.....what is happening to our "Freedom of Speech" and "Right of Expression" in this great country of ours??
I wonder what Martin Luther King would say of Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson posing as "race pimps" to further their popularity instead of uniting the community as "one people"?
I do hope the Duke boys sue for both defamation of character as well as pain and suffering.
I just hope that the intelligent public of color can see the true "colors" of these two so-called God fearing reverends, who are blatantly prejudice by their manipulation of the public's ignorance. And they never even apologized for their mistake in prosecuting the innocent Duke players; they just continue to go around sniffing out opportunities to further racism in America.

Posted at 7:29PM on Apr 12th 2007 by Mamadough

92. Yeah Sure! Let's commend NBC! It's all about the all mighty dollar. Staples pulling
advertising, and Proctor and Gamble pulling their advertising from all of MSNBCs'
daytime programming. Brave all right ... well let's see if they can fill the airwaves
with somone other than a big snore. Is there anything worth watching on daytime
television other than C-Span and The View? Rosie better think before she talks now too.
Well we can all only hope Rush Limbaugh is the next to go!

Posted at 7:36PM on Apr 12th 2007 by pb

93. #96 that is sooo totally BS, it has nothing to do with reporting about the Iraq war. It's about two big-mouth, buzzards circling around looking for a cause that deflects away from the real problems in Black America. Imus has been doing this for 30 years and he wasn't fired or called to the carpet. The war in Iraq is be reported just like the liberals want it, and the terrorist are happy about that. Jackson and Sharpton are personally destroying the goodness that really in the black community by using race for personal gain and facetime on the tube. If these are the leaders that the black community has no wonder the black community is in soooo much trouble and despair!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 9:55PM on Apr 12th 2007 by Lenn K

94. I turn the channel during banfield...

Posted at 8:12AM on Apr 13th 2007 by someonewhocares

95. More people should listen to Larry Elder than the likes of Sharpton and Jackson. Elder is obviously more intelligent and comes across that way in an interview which is much more than I can say for Sharpton and Jackson. Sharpton and Jackson are an embarrassement to my race.

Posted at 8:30AM on Apr 13th 2007 by alley

96. Hire him back, this is so unfair.

Black community has double standards.

Posted at 9:47AM on Apr 13th 2007 by Sachi

97. I think he is so very repulsive and was wondering why they didn't get rid of him sooner, what he said is not forgiveable, and MSNBC did the right thing. I've seen him degrade his sports announcer and another female announcer (for just a few) until she had to get removed from his show. His humor is something to be desired. (Not funny!!) But I also find when Mexicans,.etc. talk their language I get the same feelings I did when Imus said that. They could be saying offensive things and getting away with it.!!

Posted at 12:04AM on Apr 17th 2007 by anna

98. As inappropriate as the Imus slur was, it makes a difference who says what. Ron Stewart and Steven Colbert, or the Blue Collar guys (Foxworthy's cohorts) say some pretty awful things and people of both genders and all races laugh histerically. Other people could say the same things and would get the reaction that Imus got because some people are considered funny and others not--even though what they say is not funny.

Posted at 10:31AM on Apr 13th 2007 by HillbillyBill

99. In defense of the Michael Savage he was MISQUOTED... He called Ashleigh a "MIND SLUT" not a SLUT!!!! Big difference there, don't ya think!?

Posted at 10:49AM on Apr 13th 2007 by rebecca522us

100. This whole Imus thing is a joke. Sure he should be punished, but not fired. These so called Speckers for black america are nothing but paracites. Rev. Jackson and Al Sharpton have jumped on every band wagon that comes along simply for their OWN benefit and publicity. Wake up people!

Posted at 12:28PM on Apr 13th 2007 by bob

101. Banfield you are HOT!

Posted at 12:23PM on Apr 13th 2007 by bob

102. Imus only got fire because his sponsorship was pulling out. Otherwise he probably would still just be getting the 2 week suspension. MSNBC and CBS radio didn't take a stand! They did what they had to do because the money was leaving.

Posted at 3:22AM on Apr 14th 2007 by Kevin

103. I think Don Imus now understands the damage and hurt caused by his words, and the huge responsibility held by everyone who has a public voice. If MSNBC has any guts they will put him back on the air and create within his show a forum that could help to teach us all to have more compassion and understanding for one another. We need to have an open and frank dialogue about race relations in our country. Black leadership should consider the tremendous opportunity they have now ,and ask for more than having him fired. Imus should be back on MSNBC and could be a unigue vehicle for change. Once he 'gets it ' (took him awhile) he will do something about it and should be given one more chance to redeem himself. I think he was guilty of being grossly irresponsible and cruel to young women who deserve our support and praise for their acomplishments. He's not alone we are all learning.

Posted at 2:25PM on Apr 13th 2007 by Chris

104. When will Sharpton and Jackson apologize for the way they are acting. Jesus forgave us all our sins, the Rutgers teams seems to have forgiven Imus. How much more would he have to said for them to back off. MSNBC will not have me and my husband watching their station again. As far as GMC and Proctor and Gamble, let them pull their advertisements. That shows the intelligence they have. Imus has done so much good for the young cancer patients, the soldiers and numerous others that I can't mention. God bless everyone. Jo Ann
t

Posted at 2:06PM on Apr 13th 2007 by Jo Ann

105. All we need are a few more Sharptons and Jacksons to keep stirring the pot . How do they think the crap they are shoveling is going to help the racial tension in this country? I know it makes me sick to listen to these self rightous bigots, black or white.

Posted at 4:54PM on Apr 13th 2007 by me too

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