CNN Bans Ryan Girdusky From Network After Racist On Air Attack of Mehdi Hasan

variety.com:

William Earl administrator A cable news discussion on “CNN Newsnight with Abby Phillip” on Monday night took a shocking turn when conservative panelist Ryan Girdusky attacked journalist Mehdi Hasan, leading to the former to get banned from the network.

During the discussion, Girdusky told Hasan “I hope your beeper doesn’t go off,” referencing the recent Israeli attacks against members of the terrorist group Hezbollah in which explosives were detonated in pagers.

Hasan, a journalist who is Muslim and is the founder and editor-in-chief of Zeteo News, was shocked by the statement, asking, “Did you just say I should die?” CNN quickly released a statement, posted on social media by Phillip, banning Girdusky from the network. “There is zero room for racism or bigotry at CNN or on our air,” the statement said. “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.” After the segment, Phillip announced she had dismissed Girdusky during the commercial break, saying, “There is a line that was crossed there, and it‘s not acceptable to me.