CNN Bans Ryan Girdusky After Joke About Mehdi Hasan’s ‘Beeper’

CNN has permanently barred Ryan Girdusky from appearing on the network after the conservative commentator suggested that Muslim journalist and pro-Palestinian advocate Mehdi Hasan was a terrorist. 

During a tense panel discussion on Monday night, Hasan stated that he was used to people accusing him of antisemitism given that he’s supportive of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. 

“Yeah, well, I hope your beeper doesn’t go off,” Girdusky countered, a reference to a September Israeli operation against Hezbollah in which operatives of the Lebanese paramilitary group were killed through the use of pagers implanted with explosive devices. 

“Did you just say I should be killed live on CNN?” an incredulous Hasan asked Girdusky. “First block, say the Muslim guy should be blown up on TV.”

Host Abby Phillip admonished Girdusky, telling him that his comment was “completely out of pocket.”

After cutting to commercial, the panel returned without Girdusky. “You’ll see that Ryan is not at the table,” Philip told viewers. “There is a line that was crossed there and it’s not acceptable to me, it’s not acceptable to us at this network.” 

In a separate statement, CNN said that “Ryan Girdusky will not be welcomed back at our network.” 

“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,” the network added. 

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Girdusky has refused to take accountability for the consequences of his own actions, writing on X that “you can stay on CNN if you falsely call every Republican a Nazi and have taken money from Qatar-funded media,” but “apparently you can’t go on CNN if you make a joke. I’m glad America gets to see what CNN stands for.” 

The heated exchange took place just a day after Republicans were left scrambling to do damage control after “comedian” Tony Hinchcliffe delivered a racist monologue against Latinos and Puetro Ricans during Donald Trump’s rally in Madison Square Garden. “These people have no sense of humor,” Hinchcliffe complained amidst the backlash to his set. But really, he, Girdusky, and Republicans need a reeducation on what jokes are actually funny.