Imus Canceled In Portsmouth

Radio personality Don Imus, whose racist remarks got him fired by CBS Thursday, will not be doing a show next month from the Music Hall in Portsmouth, a spokeswoman said.

Imus’ sold-out broadcast from the Music Hall was scheduled for May 4. It would have been his sixth appearance on the Seacoast.

On Wednesday, Patricia Lynch, executive director of the Music Hall, said Portsmouth radio station WQSO-FM had rented the hall for the broadcast. Lynch said she had received calls demanding the show be canceled, but also from people seeking tickets.

She had said the decision to cancel lies with WQSO-FM and its owner, Clear Channel Communications.

Imus, whose stock in trade is being skeptical and satirical and pushing the boundaries of taste, touched off a storm of criticism on his April 4 show by describing members of the Rutgers women’s basketball team, which has eight black members, as “nappy headed hos.” Imus has apologized. An MSNBC simulcast of his show was canceled Wednesday and many sponsors withdrew their support.