CNN Bans Conservative Commentator For Racist Comment Towards Fellow Panelist

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CNN has put its foot down, banning a conservative commentator from its network after a severely racist remark towards a Muslim journalist on live TV.

On Monday’s episode of CNN Newsnight, host Abby Phillip moderated a panel discussion on the racist jokes made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe during former President Donald Trump’s rally at New York’s Madison Square Garden. During the heated debate, Ryan Girdusky, political commentator and founder of the conservative 1776 Project PAC, came to blows with Mehdi Hasan, a prominent Muslim journalist.

The two began to argue over whether Hasan, an outspoken critic of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, had been labeled an anti-Semite. “I’m a supporter of the Palestinians, I’m used to it,” Hasan said. Girdusky responded, “Well I hope your beeper doesn’t go off.”

Girdusky’s comment is considered a reference to the exploding pagers in Lebanon that killed members of the Hezbollah terrorist group last month.

Phillip and other panelists came to Hasan’s defense, blasting Girdusky for the comment. Girdusky apologized, claiming (falsely) that Hasan said he supported Hamas. After the show’s commercial break, Girdusky and Hasan left the panel.

The Aftermath

After the show, Phillip shared an official statement from CNN, saying that Girdusky will no longer be allowed on the network.

The network said in its statement:

There is zero room for racism or bigotry at CNN or on our air. We aim to foster thoughtful conversations and debate between people who profoundly disagree with each other in order to explore important issues and promote mutual understanding. But we will not allow guests to be demeaned or for the line of civility to be crossed. Ryan Girdusky will not be welcomed back at our network.

In her video, Phillip added that Hasan, a former MSNBC anchor, was not asked to leave the debate and that he is welcome to come back to CNN in the future.

Girdusky dismissed the ban on social media hours later, saying in a tweet, “Apparently you can’t go on CNN if you make a joke.”