CNN has banned conservative writer Ryan Girdusky from the network following a contentious on-air exchange in which he made a threat towards panelist Mehdi Hasan, The Associated Press reports.
The incident occurred during Monday night’s “News Night” program, where a panel was discussing Donald Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden, which was marred by racist comments and demeaning language. The discussion devolved into heated exchanges after Girdusky, author of the book “They’re Not Listening: How the Elites Created the National Populist Revolution,” made a remark about Hasan’s “anti-Semitism.”
The situation escalated when Girdusky said to Hasan, “I hope your beeper doesn’t go off.” Hasan, a commentator and founder of the media company Zeteo, responded immediately: “Did you just say I should die?”
Girdusky’s comment was a reference to a 2007 incident in Lebanon where hundreds of Hezbollah members’ pagers and walkie-talkies simultaneously exploded, killing 39. The attack was widely believed to be carried out by Israel.
Host Abby Phillip immediately intervened, calling Girdusky’s comment “completely out of pocket.” He apologized, but after a commercial break, he was gone.
Phillip apologized both to Hasan and to viewers, stating that Girdusky had crossed a line. CNN, in a statement, said there is “zero room for racism or bigotry at CNN or on our air,” and confirmed that Girdusky would not be allowed back on the network.
Girdusky responded on X, formerly known as Twitter:
“You can stay on CNN if you falsely call every Republican a Nazi” but apparently can’t “if you make a joke. I’m glad America gets to see what CNN stands for.”
