Ryan Girdusky: A conservative commentator who made a racist “joke” on-air is banned, according to CNN

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CNN says a right-wing commentator will not be allowed back on air after making a racist remark on “CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip.”

After Muslim journalist Mehdi Hasan said on Monday's prime-time show that he supported the Palestinians, conservative commentator Ryan Girdusky responded, “I hope your pager doesn't go off.” The comment was in reference to the thousands of pager explosions in the United States Lebanon, which targeted Hezbollah fighters. CNN has learned that the attacks were carried out by Israel.

Hasan then asked Phillip, “Did your guest just say on live television that I should be killed?” Girdusky responded by falsely equating Hasan's Palestinian support with the terrorist group Hamas.

“It’s completely out of pocket. You know that,” Phillip said to Girdusky. Phillip apologized to viewers for his statements. Girdusky said he apologized because he thought Hasan had said he supported Hamas, a claim Phillip and Hasan denied.

A few minutes later, when the show returned from a commercial break, Phillip addressed viewers and Hasan about Girdusky's “completely unacceptable” comments and he was removed from the show.

“A line was crossed that is not acceptable to me. This is unacceptable for us in this network. We want discussion. We want people who have different opinions to talk to each other. But if you cross the line of a complete lack of civility, that’s not going to happen here on this show,” Phillip said.

In a statement, CNN said there is “no room for racism or bigotry at CNN or on our broadcast” and that Girdusky “will not be welcomed back to our network.”

“Our goal is to promote thoughtful conversations and debates, even between people who have deeply different opinions, to explore important issues and promote mutual understanding,” CNN said in its statement.

After the show, Girdusky wrote on

The segment was intended to discuss the rhetoric at former President Donald Trump's rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, including a widely shared joke at the event by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe who called Puerto Rico “trash.” After the rally, Trump's campaign tried to distance itself from Hinchcliffe and his comments.

“This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign,” Trump campaign spokeswoman Danielle Alvarez said in a statement to CNN.