Rutgers women accept Imus’ apology

The team met with Imus on Thursday night, just hours after the controversial radio talk show host was fired by CBS in the wake of his derogatory remarks about the Scarlet Knights’ women.

Stringer had said late Thursday that the lengthy meeting was productive, then on Friday said the apology was accepted.

"We’ve accepted his apology," Stringer read in a statement. "This team and I would like to heal. We are in the process of forgiving. We still find his statements to be unacceptable, and this is an experience that we will never forget.

On Wednesday, April 4, Imus made a brief comment on the Rutgers women’s team that made reached the national championship game of the NCAA Tournament, referring to them as "nappy-headed hos."

The furor over the remarks slowly gained speed and by the weekend became a national story. The team made its first public comments on Tuesday and sponsors, including Staples, Procter & Gamble Co., and General Motors Corp., began pulling their advertising spots from the Imus programs on both television and radio.

By Wednesday, MSNBC decided to stop simulcasting Imus’ radio program. On Thursday, CBS made its decision to fire Imus, whose radio show originated at WFAN-AM in New York and was broadcast on 61 different radio stations across the country through distributor Westwood One.

CBS announced the firing during Imus’ radiothon, a two-day fund raiser that benefits charities such as Tomorrows Children’s Fund, the CJ Foundation for SIDS and the Imus Ranch for children with cancer.