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The stunning attack unfolded on the network’s “News Night with Abby Phillip” on Monday night, Oct. 28, during a heated roundtable discussion of former President Donald Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden the day before.
Scroll down to watch video of the incident.
As the panelists discussed inflammatory and racist remarks that were made by rally speakers, progressive commentator Mehdi Hasan, who is of Indian descent and Muslim, accused conservative commentator Ryan Girdusky of calling him an antisemite.
“I never called you an antisemite,” Girdusky responded, to which Hasan said he was a supporter of Palestinians, “so I’m used to it.”
“Well, I hope your beeper doesn’t go off,” Girdusky said, referencing an Israeli attack on the Hezbollah militant group in September in which rigged pagers exploded, killing dozens of people and injuring thousands more.
Hasan was visibly stunned by the remark. “Did you just say I should die?” he asked Girdusky.
“No, I did not say that,” Girdusky responded.
Phillip then interjected, calling Girdusky’s comment “completely out of pocket.”
Girdusky tried defending himself, saying he “misheard” Hasan and that he thought he said “Hamas.”
“Yeah, I went on CNN and said I support Hamas,” Hasan quipped. “What kind of idiots do you take us for? What a ridiculous thing to say.”
The show then went to commercial, after which neither Hasan nor Girdusky were at the table. Phillip addressed viewers directly, apologizing for Girdusky’s comments.
“It was completely unacceptable. There is a line that was crossed there and it’s not acceptable to me. It’s not acceptable to us at this network,” Phillip said.
“We want discussion. We want people who disagree with each other to talk to each other, but when we cross the line of a complete lack of civility, that is not going to happen here on this show.
“We can have conversations about what is happening in this country without resorting to the lowest of the lowest kind of discourse.”
CNN issued the following statement in response to the incident:
“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. Ryan Girdusky will not be welcomed back at our network.”
Girdusky also addressed the incident on X Monday night, saying:
“You can stay on CNN if you falsely call every Republican a Nazi and have taken money from Qatar-funded media. Apparently you can't go on CNN if you make a joke. I'm glad America gets to see what CNN stands for.”
You can watch video of the incident below.
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