CNN guest kicked off show after telling Muslim journalist 'I hope your pager doesn't go off'

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CNN has announced there will be no more appearances by writer Ryan Girdusky after he made a comment amid a chaotic and ill-tempered panel discussion in which he appeared to hope a Muslim journalist was blown up in a bombing.

“There is no room for racism or bigotry at CNN or on our show,” the network said in a statement. “Our aim is to promote thoughtful conversations and debates, even between people who have deeply different opinions, to discuss important issues and promote mutual understanding.

“But we will not allow guests to be humiliated or to cross the line of politeness. Ryan Girdusky will no longer be welcome on our network.”

The Independent asked Girdusky for comment.

The incident began during a panel discussion on Monday when Girdusky and fellow panelist Mehdi Hasan discussed Donald Trump's recent rally at Madison Square Garden and allegations that the Trump campaign is spreading Nazi-style ideas.

Girdusky began commenting on the labels and how Hasan, an outspoken supporter of Palestinian rights, is often branded an anti-Semitic by his opponents.

Hasan, editor-in-chief of news site Zeteo, said he was used to the attack because he was a vocal supporter of the Palestinians.

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

The comment appears to be in context of the large-scale explosion of suspected Hezbollah members' pagers and walkie-talkies last month, which killed 37 people and injured thousands, including many civilians. Lebanese officials have blamed Israel for the attack, which has denied responsibility for the explosions.

“Did you just say I should die?” Hasan replied.

The Independent Zeteo has asked for comment. On X, Hasan reposted CNN's condemnation of the comments.

During a heated exchange that followed, Hasan suggested that Girdusky was inciting violence against him and that CNN allowed a panelist to suggest “the Muslim should be blown up.”

On air, Girdusky claimed his comments came after he believed Hasan had said he supported Hamas.

“They didn’t think I said Hamas,” Hasan said. “I said that I am a supporter of Palestinian rights,” adding, “At least have the courage to support your racist comment.”

After the show returned from commercial break without Girdusky and Hasan, host Abby Phillip apologized to Hasan and viewers, calling the comments “completely unacceptable.”

“As we begin this discussion, you will see that Ryan is not at the table,” she said. “There was a line crossed and that’s not acceptable to me, it’s not acceptable to us on this network.”

“We can have conversations about what’s happening in this country without resorting to the lowest form of discourse,” she said.

Further convictions followed.

“CNN has played a central role in normalizing this kind of blatant anti-Arab, anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hatred, and it is unfortunately not at all surprising that such vile statements are now being aired so casually on its network,” said Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, who is Muslim and Palestinian-American, wrote on X.