‘Did Your Guest Just Say I Should Be Killed On Live TV?!’ Mehdi Hasan Can’t Believe What CNN Panelist Just Said to Him
Ryan James Girdusky, a panelist during a CNN discussion on anti-Semitism Monday night, insulted fellow panelist and Muslim Mehdi Hasan by implying he was a terrorist.
Girdusky, a conservative, told the former MSNBC host he hoped his “beeper” did not explode in an obvious reference to Israel’s targeting Hezbollah with explosive pagers in September. That wave of explosions killed or wounded thousands.
On News Night with host Abby Phillip, the panel discussed the backlash from former President Donald Trump’s Sunday night New York City rally.
Hasan opined that if people on the right did not want to be called “Nazis,” they refrain from statements and behaviors that could be construed as anti-Semitic.
Girdusky responded, “You’re called an anti-Semite more than anyone at this table.”
Hasan replied, “Yeah, by you.”
Girdusky fired back, “I never called you an anti-Semite.”
After Hasan said he was accustomed to being labeled an anti-Semite over his support for the Palestinian people, Girdusky said, “Well, I hope your beeper doesn’t go off.”
Girdusky attempted to keep speaking, but Hasan asked him, “Did you just say I should die? Did you just say I should be killed live on CNN?”
During a moment of crosstalk in which Girdusky denied wishing death on Hasan, the political commentator turned to Phillip and asked, “Did your guest just say I should be killed on live TV?”
Gidursky claimed he thought Hasan was a supporter of Hamas and offered an apology.
After Hasan denied any affiliation with Hamas, Girdusky said, “Then I apologize.”
Phillip turned to Gidursky and said, “Ryan, that is completely out of pocket.”
Reuters noted of the September pager explosions inside Lebanon:
Israel’s Mossad spy agency planted a small amount of explosives inside 5,000 Taiwan-made pagers ordered by Lebanese group Hezbollah months before Tuesday’s detonations, a senior Lebanese security source and another source told Reuters. The operation was an unprecedented Hezbollah security breach that saw thousands of pagers detonate across Lebanon, killing nine people and wounding nearly 3,000 others, including the group’s fighters and Iran’s envoy to Beirut.
After coming back from the next commercial break, Phillip apologized to Hasan and informed viewers that Girdusky had been kicked off the show.
CNN issued a statement to Mediaite addressing the segment late Monday night.
“There is zero room for racism or bigotry at CNN or on our air,” it read. “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.”
Watch above via CNN.
