Don Imus, legendary and controversial host of 'Imus in the Morning', dead at age 79
Don Imus, the legendary radio host who presented the show 'Imus in the Morning' for nearly fifty years was hospitalized on Christmas Eve. Following this, he passed away on Friday morning at the Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in College Station, Texas.
According to a report in The Hollywood Reporter, a representative was quoted as confirming the death of the 79-year-old host. So far, the cause of death is yet to be revealed.
Imus is survived by Dierdre, his wife of 25 years, and sons Wyatt and Lt. Zachary Don Cates.
Upon hearing the news of Imus' passing, fellow presenter Mike Francesca shared condolences on Twitter and wrote, "Shocking news on the passing of my friend, Don Imus. He will long be remembered as one of the true giants in the history of radio. My thoughts and prayers to Deirdre and Wyatt. God speed."
The last broadcast of 'Imus in the Morning' program was on March 29, 2018 and Imus had announced his retirement on Twitter. He had written, "March 29th, 2018, will be the last 'Imus in the Morning Program.' Turn out the lights...the party's over."
Imus was a controversial host who was known for making controversial, and quite often offensive, comments and statements. He was fired by CBS radio in 2007 for addressing the Rutgers University women’s basketball team by a racist slur.
However, he later met with members of the team and apologized in person.
“I wasn’t trying to be outrageous,” Imus told CBS News last year about his long run as a radio personality. “It’s just the way I thought. My feeling was then, and is now, that if they didn’t like what I did, get somebody else to do it.”