Controversial broadcaster Don Imus has been fired by CBS, president Les Moonves announced on Thursday afternoon.

MSNBC announced Wednesday that it will no longer simulcast Don Imus's radio program after his on-air reference to a women's basketball team as 'nappy-headed ho's.'
(Richard Drew/Associated Press)

Moonves said he made the decision to fire the shock jock after consulting with concerned groups and CBS affiliates over remarks Imus made about a college basketball team.

The talk-show host triggered the uproar on his April 4 show, when in an exchange with one of his producers, he described the predominantly black Rutgers University team as "nappy-headed ho's."

"From the outset I believe that all of us have been deeply upset and revulsed by the comments," Moonves said in a statement.

Of particular concern was "the effect of this kind of language on young women of colour trying to make their way in this society," Moonves said.

The Rev. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson were among those who met with Moonves to advocate Imus's removal.

The news came as Imus took part in an annual on-air charity fundraiser Thursday, despite the wave of protests that had greeted his remarks. 

Late Wednesday, MSNBC released a statement saying it had nixed its simulcast of Imus in the Morning in the wake of his recent offensive comments.

The move came amid a flood of angry e-mails to NBC, a growing exodus of prominent sponsors pulling their ads from the New York-based morning show and protests from black employees at the network.

Earlier this week, CBS announced a two-week suspension for Imus that was to have begun on Monday. The delay allowed the popular host to take part in the fundraising drive.

"This may be our last radiothon, so we need to raise about $100 million," Imus said at the start of his show Thursday morning.

Imus raised $1.3 million US on the show.

The WFAN-AM fundraiser, which this year is supporting a variety of children's charities including the host's own Imus Ranch benefiting children with cancer, has raised more than $40 million US since 1990.

On Thursday, Imus again admitted that he has "been running my mouth for 30 years," but added that this time, what came out was "really stupid."

He also added that he had apologized enough and plans to meet with members of the Rutgers team.

"At some point, I'm not sure when, I'm going to talk to the team. That's all I'm interested in doing," he said.

Essence Carson and the nine other members of the Rutgers University women's basketball team spoke publicly about Imus at a news conference on the New Jersey campus Tuesday. They joined their coach in an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show Thursday.
(Mike Derer/Associated Press)

Though the cantankerous Imus has a reputation for making offensive comments, his latest remarks have sparked a massive wave of criticism from politicians, civil rights and women's groups, school officials and the team itself.

The Rutgers team and its head coach, C. Vivian Stringer — who made their first public statements about the controversy on Tuesday — appeared on the  Oprah Winfrey Show on Thursday.

At the end of the segment, Winfrey quoted Maya Angelou in a message to the team.

"She has said this many times, and I say this to you, on behalf of myself and every woman that I know, you make me proud to spell my name W-O-M-A-N," Winfrey said.

"You've really handled this beautifully."

With files from the Associated Press