Radio legend Don Imus settled his lawsuit with CBS today, but he "nappy-headed ho" controversy isn't going away just yet. Kia Vaughn, one of the Rutgers women's basketball players whom Imus referred to as a "nappy-headed ho," has sued Imus, claiming his comments damaged her reputation.
"This is about Kia Vaughn's good name," [her lawyer] said. "She would do anything to return to her life as a student and respected basketball player -- a more simple life before Imus opened his mouth on April 4."
Obviously, Imus was wrong to say what he said, and Vaughn did nothing to merit being called a "nappy-headed ho." But does anyone seriously believe that Vaughn's good name has been damaged? Are there really people out there who think less of Vaughn because of what Imus said? If not, what's the point of the lawsuit?
Comments (Page 1 of 10)
This doesn't make much sense to me. The public flogging Imus endured for making an unfunny offhand remark, plus his subsequent term in Siberia, should be enough already. I regret that this young woman chooses to believe that her life is worse for having had his comment blasted across the country on YouTube, but it was my understanding that the team and their coach had sat down in a room and told Imus that he was forgiven. Now are they going to begin, one by one, to turn on him and try to get money from doing so? Is that what forgiveness means to them?
What Imus said was off color and taken out of context by those who wanted to play the race card. Obviously, this lawsuit is one big ca ching, as far as I'm concerned. What about his reputation, CBS wouldn't have paid him a settlement if he DIDN'T have a case, does she? We'll see.
What a joke!!! The true nature of this women is coming to light. We wouldn't even know who she was without the incident, so she didn't have a reputation to destroy!!!!!
Let it go its been months since this has happened. You all said he was forgiven?
How could her good name be tarnished? Were it not for this story, I wouldn't have even known her name! And ask anyone who knows sports who Kim Vaughn is and they'd look at you like you had antennas coming out of your head!
For God's sake, didn't Stringer say her team accepted Imus' apology? Talk about a Sharpton-like opportunist. This is outright sickening.
Her feelings and reputation was hurt especially around her peers which some people don't count.
Don disrespected a whole group of young intelligent
ladies for no reason other than being racist and very
insensitive. I would defend young white ladies too if
someone disrespected them in any way. If it's wrong
then it's wrong.
I think you all missed the point. This young woman will forever be known as one of the women that Imus insulted. That will always follow her and people will talk behind her back as well as confront her on the matter to ask if she was one of the "ho's". The stress that she has gone through and will continue to go through would be something that none of you would want to bear, and what if it was your daughter, wife or girlfriend?
She and her teamates deserve some compensation for this, besides they have already been ridiculed by many Imus fans for causing him to lose his job.
These women never asked for this, it was Imus that pushed his chips out there on the table, gambling that it would be funny. He lost. Both Imus and his network should be held liable for this atrocity. I used to listen to Imus long ago, but the quality of his show dropped dramatically over the years. He went from the guy with some insight to just a regular old jerk trying to say something funny.
I hope that Imus and his Network get together and make a fair settlement offer to these women. They should also provide Rutgers with some compensation for the damage to Rutgers.
To cut off all the replies, I am not a woman, a minority or an Imus hater, just someone who likes to see fairness.
Kia Vaughn does a disservice to all the other innocent women who aren't looking to scam a guy into a payday.
I'm just kidding. There aren't any women who aren't looking to scam a guy into a payday.
So someone called the team a silly name and that deserves monetary compensation? Kia Vaughn is not a victim of anything. A true victim is a child who has been raped by a priest. Just compare the two and then decide which one is truly deserving of compensation. Kia Vaughn's action is more deplorable than Don Imus's stupid comment. Obviously she has not suffered any true pain in her life. Classy people ignore insults.
inlandvalleywild, you missed the point. I didn't even know this lady by name until this ridiculous lawsuit.This lawsuit should be thrown out immediately
I SAID IT THEN AND I'LL SAY IT NOW. LOOK AT THE PICTURES TAKEN DURING THE GAME, ESPECIALLY THE "WOMEN'S" HAIRDO'S. THEN LOOK AT HOW COACH VIVIAN STRINGER HAD THEM APPEAR IN PUBLIC THE NEXT MORNING. ALL HAD PERFECTLY STRIGHT HAIR, MAKEUP, AND FEMININE ATTIRE. THIS WAS AN UPROAR ORCHESTRATED BY A BLACK COACH WHO SAW PUBLICITY DOLLARS AND HIRED A HAIR STYLIST TO MAKE OVER HER TEAM. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IMUS WAS RIGHT OR WRONG, STRINGER WAS TERRIBLY WRONG.
As a lawyer I have to say her attorney makes me sick of my own profession. He is taking this case solely for his own personal gain (money and 15 minutes of fame) and will use her while he is at it. If she thinks her name was drug through the mud before this, I hope she is ready for the media spotlight because she will be hounded by every news outlet and talk show known to man. She will not be able to have a "normal" fall semester because she will have media everywhere she turns. Of course, maybe that is what she wants as according to her National Team bio she aspires to become a "broadcaster and a model". This lawsuit should get her lots of face time.
This lawsuit is truly unfortunate as it rips the scab off old wounds yet again. I was truly impressed with the way Vivian Stringer (one classy lady) and the Rutgers team conducted themselves when this comment was first made. Every single one of them said they really didn't see the big deal about the comment, with most of them stating they didn't think much of it at the time. Then once the media did get involved they handled themselves with poise and grace and through their actions showed why Imus' comment was so wrong.
For Kia (which btw stands for Killer Instinct Always - see same bio previously referenced) to now decide that she hasn't quite forgiven Imus (now being hypocritical compared with the team's previous position) and the only way she can be 'made whole' again is by money, just makes her look less then the classy lady she and her teammates were when this started - Imus didn't damage her reputation, she is going to do that all on her own now. If she thought people were going to bother her for the rest of her life before - she will not get any rest again, but maybe she wants to make the talk show rounds and get her 15 minutes of fame???
Fight for racial equality in this great nation, stand up and say comments like Imus' will not be tolerated, but don't say one thing (I forgive you) and yet do another (sue for money). The Rutger's team advanced this nation towards racial equality through their conduct, but one woman is going to erase all that forward progress by filing one lawsuit.
Is it all worth it Kia??
First of all, Imus is an idiot. However, she should be thanking him. Had Imus not made the comment, nobody would even know that Rutgers had a girls basketball team. They got tons of publicity over nothing. This is nothing but a abuse of the court for a meritless suit, wasting tax payers money. Hopefully Imus will counter sue her, just as he did CBS. He's the one who suffered, she gain 15 seconds of fame that should have been used wisly to promote her self. In the end she be right were she is now, nowhere.
I watched Kia's attorney on Anderson Cooper 360. He said "It is about the money...". Kia wants to start a foundation to deal with racist speech etc. Noble cause but Don Imus has to pay the tab? Where are music moguls and rappers who created this toxic dump. Time for them to ante up too!
Good for Kia! This will teach all others who dare to insult women to zip their lips. Imus damaged those classy women and he should pay. I hope Coach Stringer and the rest of the team follows with a suit also.
Its funny that the team was not even insulted until someone told them
to be and now they cant get over it
13. Good for Kia! This will teach all others who dare to insult women to zip their lips.
Well if you believe that then please dont turn on a tv or radio or open a magazine..
#15. Yes I did say it! I am mad as hell that Imus insulted those classy women. Best of all, I'm so thrilled to the core that Kia is sueing his racist behind. And I don't care if you don't like it. It has already happened & you #15, can't do a thing about it.
#17. Regardless of what you think, Imus should PAY MONEY for calling the Rutgers team insulting names. So what if they did their hair! Do you comb/brush yours? Did you want the ladies to come out without their hair comb/brushed? Listen how your comment sounds! Think please, before you speak!
To Number 18... Your wrong. The Rutgers Womens Basketball team got their 15 minutes of fame when they held their News conference. Don Imus only owed them an apology. If you were insulted by someone or thought you were, would you expect that person to pay you money? I think not.
And so it goes on and on. Let Imus go on and be himself. He will never utter another NHH statement again. But will have some choice words for others.
God bless you all. Bruce from Florida