‘Do Not Do That at My Table’: Abby Phillip Dresses Down Guest Over ‘Condescending Tone’
CNN host Abby Phillip scolded one of her guests on Wednesday evening after he referred to a fellow panelist as “dear” in a “condescending tone.”
During a panel discussion about the sexual misconduct allegations against attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz, panelist Bruce LeVell – the former executive director of Trump’s 2016 National Diversity Coalition – said, “The bottom line is the DOJ said there’s nothing there.”
“No they didn’t,” interrupted Democratic strategist Julie Roginsky. “They said they didn’t have enough to indict. That shouldn’t be the standard.”
LeVell then replied, “No, to charge, dear.”
After Roginsky protested, “Dear? Excuse me?” Phillip cut into the debate, warning, “Hold on, I’m gonna stop you right here because we’re not gonna get off on the wrong foot. Please do not address a grown woman as ‘dear’ in a condescending tone. Do not do that at my table.”
“Okay,” LeVell replied.
Phillip then handed the conversation off to another panelist.
The CNN host has taken less of a backseat in the moderation of her guests since a debate on her show turned ugly last month.
Republican commentator Ryan Girdusky was ejected from a CNN NewsNight panel and banned from appearing on the network again after he told fellow panelist Mehdi Hasan, “I hope your beeper doesn’t go off,” in reference to the pager bombs Israel used to kill at least 42 people in September.
“Did your guest just say I should be killed on live TV?” Hasan asked Phillip, before the show cut to commercials.
Following the break, Girdusky was noticeably absent from the panel and Phillip issued an apology over the “completely unacceptable” remark.
In a subsequent statement, CNN said, “There is zero room for racism or bigotry at CNN or on our air. 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.”
Watch above via CNN.
