CNN suspends pro-Trump commentator for ‘beeper’ joke directed at Muslim journalist Mehdi Hasan

CNN has banned a conservative pundit from appearing on the network again after he joked with a progressive Muslim reporter during a brief exchange on “CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip.”

It started when guest panelist Ryan Girdusky said fellow guest Mehdi Hasan had often been called an anti-Semite, which Hasan acknowledged, saying he was “used to it” as a vocal supporter of the Palestinians.

“Well, I hope your beeper doesn’t go off,” Girdusky said, apparently referring to Israel’s carefully coordinated sneak attack last month, in which a wave of deadly pager blasts in Lebanon injured thousands of members of the Hezbollah terrorist group supported by Iran.

The comment drew immediate rebuke from the other panellists, with Mehdi pointedly asking: “Are you saying I should die?”

Host Abby Phillip tried to rein in the men as the argument escalated, with Medhi asking again: “Did you just say I should be killed on CNN?”

Girdusky seemed to back off for a moment, asking if Medhi was saying he supported Hamas. The British-American journalist replied: “Of course” he did not support Hamas, at which point Girdusky said “Well, then I apologize.”

This qualified apology only made matters worse, with Phillip and the other guests blasting Girdusky for what they called “disgusting” and “racist”.

A few hours after the show, CNN released a statement denouncing his comments.

“There is no place for racism or bigotry on CNN or on our broadcast,” the statement read in part, noting that the network aims to “foster thoughtful conversation and debate” among those who disagree.

“But we will not allow the guests to be humiliated or cross the line of decency. Ryan Girdusky will not be welcomed back to our network.”

Girdusky, who has written for publications including American Conservative Magazine, took to X to criticize the network for firing him.

“You can stay on CNN if you falsely call every Republican a Nazi and you got money from the Qatari funded media.” he wrote in a veiled reference to Mehdi’s media startupZeteo, being funded by the Middle Eastern country’s government – ​​a claim he has repeatedly denied.

“Apparently you can’t go on CNN if you’re joking. I’m glad America can see what CNN stands for.”

Mehdi, who was born in the UK to Hyderabadi Muslim parents who immigrated from India, has written or contributed to left-wing media outlets including Al Jazeera and MSNBC.

Last year he was accused of plagiarizing a column he wrote in favor of beating children more than 20 years ago, and in 2019, he apologized when old blog entries surfaced in which the columnist compared groups such as non-Muslims and atheists with “cattle”.