CNN banned political commentator Ryan Girdusky for life after he got into a racially charged exchange during a live broadcast with journalist Mehdi Hasan.

When CNN NewsNight was being anchored by Abby Phillip, she was presenting a discussion among Girdusky and Hasan who continued to contradict each other. The worst part is that Girdusky made an incendiary comment about background, related to Hasan’s racial background that sparked a fire in a heated exchange, when Girdusky said “I hope your beeper doesn’t go off, which the media interpreted it as a comment meant to race, based on stereotyped beliefs. Now, actions taken by CNN against Girdusky and a ban.

CNN immediately pulled Girdusky off the air and then issued a statement saying they would not invite him on again.

“We do not tolerate discriminatory language or behavior on our platform. Ryan Girdusky will not appear on CNN again.”

The ban comes from CNN’s position for hosting respectful debate and an absolute intolerance for any form of racism on its platform.
Public Reaction and Response

Social media focused much attention to the topic, and lots of it has expressed to support the Mehdi Hasan and even criticized the declaration. On the critics end, their focus was directed towards responsibility in the conversation in media, especially nowadays when so much sensitivity from culture stands at its peaks.

Until now, no public stance has been brought forward by Mehdi Hasan for the incident though supporters are all about staying united with him.

Is it a trend of Controversy?

Girdusky is not a new face to controversy. Girdusky is known for his political opinions and criticisms against progressive figures. He frequently appeared in the headlines with provocative statements. However, this incident was too extreme and needed severe action from CNN.
Conclusion

This fallout should remind all and sundry about keeping the respect in discussion when matters concerning media come into the open. Since CNN remains dedicated to delivering objective, responsible journalism, banning Girdusky comes across as the right call that marks a departure towards setting new standards.

Image Source