CNN bans guest over ‘exploding pager’ comment live on air

Journalist Mehdi Hasan has accused conservative pundit Ryan Girdusky of “inciting violence” against him

CNN has banned conservative political commentator Ryan Girdusky from appearing on its shows after he alluded to an explosive-rigged pager during a debate with Muslim journalist Mehdi Hasan. 

The incident occurred during a heated debate on ‘News Night With Abby Phillip’ on Monday night. Hasan complained about having been accused of anti-Semitism in the past, saying “I’m a supporter of the Palestinians, so I’m used to it.” 

Girdusky interjected, saying to Hasan: “Well, I hope your beeper doesn’t go off.” He was apparently referring to a series of explosions of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members in Lebanon and Syria last month, which was widely blamed on Israel. 

“Did your guest just say I should be killed on live TV?” Hasan responded, accusing Girdusky of “inciting violence.” Girdusky promptly apologized, claiming that he had thought that Hasan supported the Palestinian militant group Hamas. 

Girdusky to Hasan: I hope your beeper doesn’t go off pic.twitter.com/YmHhYnkDZ3

— Acyn (@Acyn) October 29, 2024

CNN released a statement following the altercation, saying that Girdusky “will not be welcomed back at our network.”

There is “zero room for racism or bigotry at CNN or on our air,” the network said. Phillip separately apologized to viewers for the guest’s behavior. 

Palestinian American Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib lashed out at the channel on Tuesday, accusing CNN of playing “a central role in normalizing this kind of open anti-Arab, anti-Muslim, and anti-Palestinian hate. It was “totally unsurprising to see such disgusting statements aired so casually on its network now,” she wrote on X.

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Girdusky has defended his comments on X. “You can stay on CNN if you falsely call every Republican a Nazi and have taken money from Qatar-funded media,” he wrote, referring to Hasan’s past employment at Al Jazeera. “Apparently you can’t go on CNN if you make a joke. I’m glad America gets to see what CNN stands for.”

Emotional arguments and personal attacks have become more frequent in the media during the highly contentious US presidential campaign that is nearing its end on Election Day on November 5. At the same time, a recent Gallup poll found that nearly 70% of Americans have little or no trust in the media.