Rutgers Player Takes Imus to Court

Appearing to be timed as a response to reports of Don Imus's possible return to talk radio this fall, Kia Vaughn sues the veteran talker in civil court for slander and defamation. "Who is Kia Vaughn," I hear you ask. She's a player on the University of Rutgers Women's Varsity Basketball team; yes, the same women whom Imus referred to as "nappy-headed hos." The suit also names NBC and CBS as co-respondents.

Recall that I said that the adjective "nappy-headed wasn't a slur, but that the noun "ho" (as in whore) certainly was. Well, Vaughn and her lawyer agree, as they are alleging that Imus defamed her character by claiming that all of the women were "unchaste."

So much for "moral authority" and for much of the sympathy generated--at least for Vaughn. You know why? Because I'm betting Vaughn really was offended by the "ho" epithet--as she and the others should have been. It was a personal affront, rather than a general one, e.g. those offered to black women on a regular basis by hardcore rappers. And I'll go out on a limb here: I would guess that Ms. Vaughn calls herself a Christian. If she's an observant one, then calling her a "ho" is indeed slander.

Perhaps I'm mistaken, but didn't Imus apologize for the slander and defamation? Oh, wait. I'm not mistaken. He did indeed apologize and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, along with their coach, accepted that apology. But, instead of holding onto the integrity of that accepted apology, instead of holding that moral high ground--to that very Christian value of forgiveness, Vaughn simply wants to get paid.

Humans!

One of the commenters at the ABC site made an excellent point: if Vaughn had any brains--her Rutgers education notwithstanding--she would have asked Imus, NBC or CBS for a job. There is no way they would have refused her.

As it appears, however, she has done the work that Imus couldn't do--she has slandered her own good name by going for the easy money. There's a word for people who do that.

(Thanks to Hot Air)

UPDATE: Something very important which I neglected to add was that, according to the New Yor Times article, Imus and CBS came to a settlement regarding his termination and in accordance with his contract. The amount of settlement is undisclosed, but, as most would be able to guess, we're talking big $$$, since Imus was to be paid "$40 million over the almost four years that remained on his contract." Timing of the lawsuit---->>>not a coincidence.

Comments

[Walter E. Wallis]

Is she also suing all the rappers?

[baldilocks]

No and I don't think she should (see what I said about this in the third link).

[Linda F]

I disagree with you about the source of the women's ire - it wasn't the "ho" that caused the problem, it was the comment about their hair - hair being "fightin' words" to many young black women. I've seen many a girl-fight begin with a slur to their hair.

[baldilocks]

Linda, please read this.