NEW YORK (May 15) - XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. said Tuesday it suspended the ribald radio show "Opie & Anthony" for 30 days about a week after a guest fantasized about raping Condoleezza Rice and Laura Bush.

XM, which has agreed to merge with rival Sirius Satellite Radio Inc., said in a statement that it "deplored" the comments on the show, which is hosted by Gregg "Opie" Hughes and Anthony Cumia. The hosts issued an apology soon after the original airing.

Satellite Scandal
But XM said Tuesday it had second thoughts after listening to show this week.

"Comments made by Opie and Anthony on yesterday's broadcast put into question whether they appreciate the seriousness of the matter," the company said in a statement. "The management of XM Radio decided to suspend Opie and Anthony to make clear that our on-air talent must take seriously the responsibility that creative freedom requires of them."

The suspension comes in the wake of the CBS Radio's firing of talk show host Don Imus, the who called the Rutgers University women's basketball team "nappy headed hos" on his early morning show last month, stirring an uproar about the remarks that many people found racially offensive.

CBS Radio, a unit of CBS Corp., simulcasts a censored daily version of the Opie & Anthony show, which airs uncensored on XM Satellite Radio.

"Our plan is for them to be on-air tomorrow, according to a CBS spokeswoman.

Another show will air in its place on XM during the suspension.

Opie and Anthony's show has gotten them into hot water before. They were fired from a New York station for a 2002 broadcast in which they encouraged couples to have sex in public places.

Would those that found it funny or not offensive think that if it was their mother, sister or daughter being talked about that way. Whatever happened to respect for other people?

Thats just wrong ! Funny is when no ones hurt or threatened !

Alright, first of all:

LIZ-SOMEONE NEEDS TO TAKE AWAY SOME OF YOUR CHAMPION TITLES!!! I CAN'T TAKE ANY MORE OF YOUR RIDICULOUSLY LONG POSTS!!! Either that, or you are just going to have to start writing enough to fill up all that space!

The thing about people saying things such as this, while it is offensive, is no different than what any rapper records on a CD and sells to the public. I am just as disgusted by this as you guys are, but there is a little double standard in play.

No double standard here ... I agree Rap is horrible and as the mother of 2 teens that aren't allowed to bring that vile garbage into our house this is my opinion (not that anyone really wants to hear it LOL) ... I believe freedom of speech is wonderful and necessary however to those whom much is given much is required. There is a huge responsibility that comes with it. Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences.
JMO,
Tara

I listened to these guys somewhat but they are very childish and do stupid things. I am all for free speach, but not what they said. I don't think they should have gotten suspended because XM is a paid service, no FCC rules in play. They have said worse things before. My comment will be, you can switch the dial and not listen to it if it offends you. There are over 200 other channels on XM that you can listen too.