CBS has fired Don Imus after the radio host sparked outrage for calling a U.S. university women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos."
Imus had initially been given a two-week suspension, while MSNBC had said it would stop airing a simulcast of "Imus in the Morning."
"There has been much discussion of the effect language like this has on our young people, particularly young women of colour trying to make their way in this society," said CBS President Leslie Moonves.
"That consideration has weighed most heavily on our minds as we made our decision."
Imus described the Rutgers women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos" on April 4, and apologized for the comment in the following days.
Among his most vocal critics was the Rev. Al Sharpton, who after meeting with Moonves said: "It's not about taking Imus down, it's about lifting decency up."
Imus appeared on Sharpton's own radio show Monday to address his slur, saying that "our agenda is to be funny and sometimes we go too far. And this time we went way too far."
On Thursday, Imus learned he had lost his job during his traditional Radiothon to raise money for various charities.
"This may be our last Radiothon, so we need to raise about $100 million," said Imus, once named one of the 25 most influential people in the U.S. by />Time Magazine/>.
By Thursday he had raised more than US$1.3 million.
Vivian Stringer, coach of the Rutgers team, called Imus's slur "deplorable, despicable, abominable and unconscionable." She said the women represent the "best this nation has to offer ... young ladies of class, distinction. They are articulate, they are gifted. They are God's representatives in every sense of the word."
One of the team's players, sophomore centre Kia Vaughn, said she was angered Imus calling the women prostitutes.
"Unless they've given 'ho' a whole new definition, that's not what I am," she told reporters.
Moments after the slur, another speaker on Imus's show remarked the team looked like the Toronto Raptors, and another on-air voice added: "only tougher."
Bryan Colangelo, general manager of the Raptors, said the reference made no sense.
"Something so offensive and unintelligent doesn't even really doesn't deserve to be considered, he said Tuesday.
Imus had made a career out of cranky insults during his morning show, once calling former Colorado senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell "the guy from 'F Troop.'" Campbell is Native American, and "F Troop" is a 1960s satirical Western.
He also called former U.S. secretary of state Colin Powel a "weasel" and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson a "fat sissy."
With files from The Associated Press
