CNN host Abby Phillip has explained why the guest targeted during a panel discussion that turned vile never returned after a break.
The network has banned future appearances from writer Ryan Girdusky, after he made comment amid the disorder appearing to say he hoped that Muslim journalist Mehdi Hasan got blown up in a bomb attack. Hasan defended his support for Palestinian rights after accusations of being an antisemite.
Video of the exchange and Phillip and other panelists attacking Girdusky quickly went viral. Phillip issued an apology after a commercial break clarifying that the writer had been asked to leave. However, viewers were left confused after Hasan, founder of media platform Zeteo, also didn’t return to the panel.
In a video posted to social media, Phillip clarified the reasons behind Hasan’s absence.
“Hey I’m sure everyone has seen what happened on the show tonight, I just wanted to address one quick thing.
“As you may have seen Ryan was asked to leave the show and we have put out a statement saying that he’s not welcome back on our air. There is a line here on this program and it was crossed but I want to be clear as well that we did not ask Mehdi to not come back.
“In fact we really wanted him to come back and finish the show, we had a lot to talk to him about and we really hope that he’ll join us again soon. But for those of you who are wondering why he did not come back I just want to be super clear that that was not in any way because we did not want him back at all.
“I won’t speak for him but I just wanted to make sure that you all knew that that was not what happened there.”
Viewers were left shocked at the exchange that began as the pair discussed Donald Trump’s recent rally at Madison Square Garden and accusations that the Trump campaign is spreading Nazi-style ideas.
The conversation rapidly descended into chaos as the issue of Israel and Palestine was brought up with Gidursky suggesting Hasan supported Hamas.
“Yeah, well, I hope your beeper doesn’t go off,” Girdusky then said in the exchange, referencing the Hezbollah beepers exploded by Israel in a sneak attack.
The exchange left viewers shocked over the comment.
“Oh my God I have never seen a brawl like this on CNN,” wrote one shocked viewer.
“My blood is BOILING,” wrote another. “The fact that this was allowed to go on for as long as it did is insane. This is disgusting.”
CNN also quickly issued a statement about the incident and tried to explain why Girdusky was on the air in the first place.
“There is zero room for racism or bigotry at CNN or on our air,” the network stated. “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. Ryan Girdusky will not be welcomed back at our network.”
