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MAGA commentator lashes out at CNN after network kicked him off air over ‘racist’ pager ‘joke’
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MAGA commentator lashes out at CNN after network kicked him off air over ‘racist’ pager ‘joke’

The conservative commentator kicked CNN for making a “racist” comment against a fellow panelist and has attacked the network for banning him.

Donald Trump supporter Ryan Girdusky claimed his comment, which appeared to suggest he hoped Muslim journalist Mehdi Hasan would be blown up in a bombing, was a “joke.”

“You can stay on CNN if you falsely call every Republican a Nazi and have taken money from Qatar-funded media,” Girdusky responded in a message to X.

“Apparently you can’t get on CNN if you make a joke. I’m glad America sees what CNN stands for.”

The fallout began Monday night on the Abby Phillip show, where Girdusky and panelist Mehdi Hasan reviewed Trump’s campaign rally at Madison Square Garden and discussed allegations that the Trump campaign is spreading Nazi-style ideas.

Girdusky made a comment about labels and how Hasan, an outspoken supporter of Palestinian rights, is often labeled an anti-Semite by his opponents.

Hasan, editor-in-chief of the news site Zeteo, said he is used to the attack given his vocal support for the Palestinians.

CNN said Ryan Girdusky will no longer appear after heated arguments
CNN said Ryan Girdusky will no longer appear after heated arguments (CNN)

“Yeah, well, I hope your pager doesn’t go off,” Girdusky said then.

The comment appeared to be a reference to the large-scale explosion of pagers and walkie-talkies belonging to suspected Hezbollah members last month, which killed 37 people and injured thousands, including many civilians. Lebanese officials have blamed the attack on Israel, which denies responsibility.

“Did you just say I had to die?” an outraged Hasan responded to Girdusky. “Did you just say I should be killed on live TV?”

Chaos ensued as other panelists joined in to reprimand Girdusky, who initially apologized after being called out.

CNN has since said that there will be no further appearances by the writer following the clash.

Girdusky responded to the fallout in a post on X
Girdusky responded to the fallout in a post on X (@RyanGirdusky/X)

“There is no room for racism or bigotry on CNN or in our broadcasts,” the channel said in a statement. “We strive to promote thoughtful conversations and debates, including between people who strongly disagree, to explore important issues and promote mutual understanding.

“But we will not allow guests to be humiliated or the line of civility to be crossed. Ryan Girdusky will no longer be welcome in our network.”

Phillip also addressed the controversy in a separate statement, clarifying why both panelists did not return to the next break following the dispute.

“As you may have seen, Ryan was asked to leave the show and we have issued a statement saying he is no longer welcome on our air,” Phillip said. “There is a line here in this program and it has been crossed, but I also want to be clear that we did not ask Mehdi not to come back.

“We actually really wanted him to come back and finish the show, we had a lot to talk to him about and we really hope he joins us again soon. But for those of you wondering why he didn’t come back, I want to be very clear that in no way was it because we didn’t want him back at all.

Hasan did not immediately comment on the incident, but shared CNN’s statement on his X profile.