ALBAWABA - During a discussion on Sunday, CNN banned political consultant Ryan Girdusky after his racist comment towards another guest journalist named Mehdi Hasan, as clips of the incident in question swarmed social media platforms.
Ryan Girdusky told Mehdi Hasan, "I hope your beeper doesn’t go off," in reference to Israel's pager attack on Hezbollah members on Sep. 2024, after a heated debate about Donald Trump’s recent Madison Square Garden rally.
Hasan responded, "Did you just say I should die?" which resulted in comments from the CNN anchor calling what Girdusky said "disgusting" and "completely out of pocket" while also cutting him from talking any further.
CNN bans Ryan Girdusky after racist comment towards Mehdi Hasan, "I hope your beeper doesn’t go off"
Beforehand, Hasan told Girdusky, "If you don't want to be called Nazis stop doing..." but was cut off and told by Girdusky, "You're being called an anti-semite more than anyone at this table," due to Hasan's pro-Palestine stance amid the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023.
Girdusky later apologized for his comment but got slammed by everyone sitting at the table during the discussion.
Anchor of CNN Newsnight Abby D. Phillip took to her official X account (Formerly known as Twitter) and said:
"Sharing CNN’s statement and a quick message from me about what happened on tonight’s show. I take this very seriously and want to again apologize to Mehdi Hasan and I hope he’ll join us another time".
Philip also stated that during a break, she dismissed Ryan Girdusky from the discussion.
CNN's statement included, "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".
It adds, "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".
Girdusky later took to his official X account and said, "You can stay on CNN if you falsely call every Republican a Nazi and have taken money from Qatar-funded media. Apparently, you can't go on CNN if you make a joke. I'm glad America gets to see what CNN stands for".
