LONDON: CNN issued an apology after a panelist on its program suggested that fellow guest Mehdi Hasan was a “terrorist.”
The incident occurred on Monday night’s broadcast of NewsNight, when conservative commentator Ryan James Girdusky told Hasan, the founder of the recently launched news site Zeteo and former MSNBC host, that he hoped his “beeper doesn’t go off.”
This appeared to reference Israel’s recent targeting of Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon using explosive pager devices, which killed 12 and injured many more.
“Did your guest just say I should be killed on live TV?” Hasan asked the show’s anchor, Abby Phillip.
Girdusky to Hasan: I hope your beeper doesn’t go off pic.twitter.com/YmHhYnkDZ3
— Acyn (@Acyn) October 29, 2024
After a commercial break, Phillip issued an on-air apology to Hasan and viewers and said Girdusky had been removed from the show.
“I want to apologize to Mehdi Hasan for what was said at this table. It was completely unacceptable,” she said. “I want to apologize to the viewers at home.”
Hasan also did not reappear on the show after the commercial break, leading to some speculation that he was also asked to leave, although Philip later said in a video on X, which was also reposted by Hasan, that the network “really wanted him to come back and finish the show.”
The exchange began when the two guests were invited to discuss the upcoming US election and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
Hasan referenced Donald Trump’s recent rally and accusations that the Trump campaign is spreading Nazi-style ideas.
Girdusky then accused Hasan, an outspoken advocate for Palestinian rights, of being “the most antisemitic person at this table,” a label Hasan said he frequently faces due to his views.
“Yeah, well, I hope your beeper doesn’t go off,” Girdusky then said, before attempting to justify his words by claiming he thought Hasan said he supported Hamas.
“You didn’t think I said Hamas. I said I’m a supporter of Palestinian rights,” Hasan said, adding, “At least have the guts to support your racist comment.”
In a later post on X, however, the conservative political consultant and writer appeared to double down on his remarks, saying, “You can stay on CNN if you falsely call every Republican a Nazi and have taken money from Qatar-funded media,” he said. “Apparently you can’t go on CNN if you make a joke. I’m glad America gets to see what CNN stands for.”
Phillip: I want to apologize to Mehdi Hasan for what was said at this table. It was completely unacceptable when we get this discussion started, you'll see that Ryan is not at the table… I want to apologize to the viewers at home pic.twitter.com/wyPaStHUex
— Acyn (@Acyn) October 29, 2024
Following the exchange, CNN announced that it would no longer feature appearances from Girdusky.
“There is zero room for racism or bigotry at CNN or on our air,” the network said in a statement. “We aim to foster thoughtful conversations and debate including 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.”
The incident prompted widespread condemnation, with several people describing the comments as an overtly racist attack.
Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, who is Muslim and Palestinian-American, wrote on X: “CNN has played a central role in normalizing this kind of open anti-Arab, anti-Muslim, and anti-Palestinian hate, and it’s sadly totally unsurprising to see such disgusting statements aired so casually on its network now.”
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