A conservative commentator who was kicked out of CNN after comparing a Muslim guest to a terrorist has revealed what happened after the cameras cut.
Ryan Girdusky was kicked off the station Monday night after telling journalist Medhi Hasan, “I hope your pager doesn’t go off,” in reference to Israel blowing up Hezbollah terrorists and killing 32.
Later, writing on his Substack, Girdusky revealed that “all hell broke loose” and Phillip asked him to stop talking.
He adds that Medhi then “stormed” off the set after the show cut to a commercial break before Phillip advised him he should leave.
Ryan Girdusky (right) was banned from the station on Monday night after making a racist comment towards British-American host Medhi Hasan (left).
‘Abby asked me to step away from the stage and I couldn’t do what I just did. I said, “Okay.” They disconnected my microphone and I apologized to the producer,’ he wrote.
He described later texting the person who had organized him on the show and said that within minutes of leaving he had been contacted by “a lot of liberals.”
Guests on the show, hosted by Abby Phillip, had been discussing racist jokes made during former President Donald Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
In a post on his own newsletter, Girdusky, founder of the PAC 1776 Project, revealed what happened after the cameras cut.
Guests on the show, hosted by Abby Phillip, had been discussing racist jokes made during former President Donald Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
He criticized Hasan, who he said had been “called an anti-Semitic more than anyone else at this table” for his comment on the current war between Israel and Hamas.
Hasan mentioned that he supported Palestinian rights and not Hamas, prompting the pager comment.
Regarding the comment, he wrote: “It was all nonsense, I just made a quick joke” stating that he thought he heard Hasan say Hamas instead of Palestine.
Hasan accused him of asking to be killed over the comment, saying: ‘Did you say I should die? You just said they should kill me.
Girdusky continued: ‘I apologize for hearing the wrong thing; In the heat of the moment, I didn’t hear it correctly.’
Hasan mentioned that he supported Palestinian rights and not Hamas, prompting the pager comment.
Girdusky wrote that his parents had received threats for his comments, but he described himself as “fine.”
He added: ‘I never strived to be someone on television. I just don’t care much. People always talk about a brand and I guess it’s mine; I really don’t give a shit
After the interaction, CNN issued a statement banning him from the network and Phillip posted a video apology to Medhi.
Ryan Girdusky founded the Project 1776 PAC in 2021
He continued: ‘This is a man who a few seconds earlier referred to me as a Nazi and then said I had been calling him an anti-Semite, even though I had never heard of him until yesterday.
“It was like so many other segments I’ve had on CNN, double standards galore, where I was expected to wear it, and the liberal guests could get away with pretty much anything they wanted.”
Closing his explanation, he said the exchange was an example of “why no one trusts the media anymore, especially liberal news networks.”
He stated that his programming was not about “facts or a level playing field” but about “promoting a narrative.”
‘People who opposed that narrative were expected to be a punching bag. To hell with that,’ he added.
Girdusky added: ‘I’m not a victim; I said what I said. I am the owner. Some people liked it; some people hated it. I don’t mind. No one will remember it in a moment.
‘This is how the media works; tries to fuel the outrage, fear and anxiety of its dwindling audience to keep the lights on. I was just another point in the chain of the outrage machine.
‘So if you ever get canceled from a cable news network, remember, everyone forgets after a few days. It’s not as important as telling the truth and occasionally a joke.
Hasan, seen here last August in New York City, has yet to comment publicly on the matter, but has reposted comments from fellow guests Ashley Allison and Abby Phillip on his social media.
After the commercial break, Phillip apologized to Hasan and those watching.
She said: ‘I want to apologize to Mehdi Hasan for what was said at this table. It was completely unacceptable. When we begin this discussion, you will see that Ryan is not at the table.
‘There is a line that was crossed there and it is not acceptable to me. “This is not acceptable to us at this network.”
The broadcaster said in a statement: “There is no place for racism or bigotry on CNN or on our air.
‘Our goal is to foster thoughtful conversations and debates, even between people who deeply disagree with each other, to explore important issues and promote mutual understanding.
But we will not allow guests to be degraded or the line of civility to be crossed. Ryan Girdusky will not be welcome back on our network.
Hasan has yet to comment publicly on the matter, but he has reposted comments from fellow guests Ashley Allison and Abby Phillip on his social media.