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CNN bans guest over ‘beeper’ comment aimed at pro-Palestinian panelist
The network said Ryan Girdusky would not be welcome back after he told Mehdi Hasan “I hope your beeper doesn’t go off,” referencing Israel’s operation against Hezbollah.
CNN says a conservative commentator is no longer welcome on-air after he made a comment equating a pro-Palestinian panelist with Hezbollah.
During a contentious back-and-forth on “NewsNight” Monday, former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan said he was used to being called an antisemite because he supports Palestinians. Commentator Ryan Girdusky, a supporter of Donald Trump, responded, “I hope your beeper doesn’t go off.”
Girdusky was referring to the Israeli military mission that spent years putting pagers wired to explode in the pockets of Hezbollah members and ended Sept. 17 when Israeli detonated the pagers, killing or maiming more than 3,000 people.
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The comment prompted immediate backlash on the panel, which was hosted by Abby Phillip. Girdusky quickly apologized for misunderstanding Hasan’s comments, but Phillip and other panelists told Girdusky his apology wasn’t enough.
“Are you a racist, violent person inciting violence against me?” Hasan asked Girdusky, who responded that he thought Hasan had said he supported Hamas. Hasan later added, “At least have the guts to support your racist comment.”
Phillip returned to the air solo after the segment ended, apologizing to Hasan and to the viewers for the “completely unacceptable” comment and explaining that Girdusky would not be back at the table.
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She also shared on social media CNN’s statement on the situation, which said there is “zero room for racism or bigotry at CNN” and that Girdusky would not be welcome back on the network.
“There is a line here on this program and it was crossed,” Phillip added in her post.
Girdusky has written for American Conservative magazine, founded by paleoconservative Pat Buchanan, and is a conservative political consultant from New York. He also founded the 1776 Project PAC, whose website says it is “reigniting the spark and spirit of that revolution by reforming school boards across America.”
“Apparently you can’t go on CNN if you make a joke. I’m glad America gets to see what CNN stands for,” he posted online in response to the incident.
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