CNN has banned conservative commentator Ryan James Girdusky after he made on-air remarks suggesting that fellow panelist Mehdi Hasan was a member of Hezbollah during a contentious discussion on “NewsNight With Abby Phillip.” (Mehdi Hasan)
- Ryan James Girdusky was banned from CNN after implying Mehdi Hasan was linked to Hezbollah during a live discussion.
- Fellow panelists condemned Girdusky's comments, with host Abby Phillip calling his remark “completely out of pocket” and unacceptable.
- CNN issued a statement reinforcing its stance against racism and bigotry, confirming Girdusky will not return to the network.
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CNN barred a conservative commentator from its programs after he made on-air remarks Monday that seemed to imply that another guest, pundit Mehdi Hasan, was a member of Hezbollah.
The commentator, Ryan James Girdusky, had appeared regularly on CNN as a pro-Trump voice in recent weeks.
His comment was made on Monday’s episode of “NewsNight With Abby Phillip,” as a panel of commentators was embroiled in a contentious discussion over former President Donald Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden.
Hasan and Girdusky argued over whether Girdusky had previously referred to Hasan as an antisemite. ( Girdusky said he had not.) Hasan said he was regularly called that label because “I’m a supporter of the Palestinians, so I’m used to it.”
“Yeah, well, I hope your beeper doesn’t go off,” Girdusky replied, an apparent reference to the Israeli operation that exploded hundreds of pagers carried by members of Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia, in Lebanon.
“Did you just say I should die?” Hasan replied. “Did you just say I should be killed live on CNN?”
Girdusky said he thought that Hasan had described himself as a supporter of Hamas and quickly tried to apologize. Other members of the panel objected — “That’s disgusting,” one said. Phillip, the host, cut off Girdusky, saying, “Ryan, that is completely out of pocket.”
When the show returned from a commercial break, Girdusky was no longer on set, and Phillip apologized to viewers. “There is a line that was crossed there, and it’s not acceptable to me,” she said.
CNN issued a statement shortly afterward. “There is zero room for racism or bigotry at CNN or on our air,” the network said. “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, who is the author of the book “They’re Not Listening: How The Elites Created the National Populist Revolution,” said Tuesday: “Apparently you can’t go on CNN if you make a joke. I’m glad America gets to see what CNN stands for.”
He later published a post on his Substack titled, “So You’ve Been Banned From a Cable News Network: My Best Advice for Future Banned Conservatives.”
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This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
By Michael M. Grynbaum
c. 2024 The New York Times Company
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