Right-Wing Guest Booted From CNN Mid-Segment After ‘Vile’ Attack On Panelist

A conservative commentator was given the boot from CNN in the middle of a show after a “completely unacceptable” attack on a fellow panelist.

“I hope your beeper doesn’t go off,” right-wing personality Ryan Girdusky told Mehdi Hasan after Hasan said he supports Palestinian people.

Last month, hundred of pagers held by suspected Hezbollah operatives across Lebanon exploded in an attack widely believed to have been carried out by Israel. At least 37 people were killed, including two children, and thousands were injured.

“Did you just say I should die?” Hasan asked in disbelief. “Did you just say I should be killed on live TV?”

“No, I did not say that,” Girdusky said.

“You said you hope my beeper doesn’t go off,” Hasan pointed out.

Girdusky asked Hasan if he supports Hamas.

“I said ‘Palestinians,’” Hasan said.

“Then I apologize, I apologize,” Girdusky said. “I thought he said Hamas, I apologize.”

“This is America in 2024,” Hasan said. “Forget the racism. It’s I should die.”

When Girdusky claimed he didn’t say that, Hasan pressed him to explain what he meant with the “beeper” comment:

After a commercial break, Girdusky was gone ― and host Abby Phillip issued an apology to Hasan as well as to CNN viewers.

“We want discussion. We want people who disagree with each other to talk to each other,” she said. “But when you cross the line of a complete lack of civility, that is not going to happen here on this show.”

She called for conversations “without resorting to the lowest of the lowest kinds of discourse.”

CNN released a statement saying there is “zero room for racism or bigotry” on the network and that Girdusky won’t be back.

“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,” the statement said. “But we will not allow guests to be demeaned or for the line of civility to be crossed.”

Girdusky was far less apologetic after the show.

“You can stay on CNN if you falsely call every Republican a Nazi and have taken money from Qatar-funded media,” Girdusky griped on X. “Apparently you can’t go on CNN if you make a joke. I’m glad America gets to see what CNN stands for.”

Critics called out Girdusky for the “vile” and “disgusting” attack on Hasan: