CNN has dropped show host Reza Aslan after he called Donald Trump a “piece of sh*t” in a tweet after the president’s reaction to the London terror attacks last week. The network has come under fire for the decision.
Alsan, who hosted the Believer with Reza Aslan program, tweeted a reaction to Trump’s attacks on London Mayor Sadiq Khan in the wake of the attacks in the British capital.
At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is “no reason to be alarmed!”
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2017
Trump accused the mayor of downplaying the threat, by misrepresenting Khan’s comment that Londoners should not be alarmed by the additional armed police presence on the streets.
“This piece of sh*t is not just an embarrassment to America and a stain on the presidency,” Aslan said in a since-deleted tweet. “He’s an embarrassment to humankind.”
The next day, Aslan tweeted an apology for his remarks.
“When in the first few minutes of the terror attack in London, the President of the United States tweeted about his travel ban, I lost my cool and responded to him in a derogatory fashion,” he wrote. “That’s not like me. I should have used better language to express my shock and frustration at the president’s lack of decorum and sympathy for the victims of London. I apologize for my choice of words.”
CNN announced it would not “move forward with production” of Reza’s show, adding, “We wish Reza and his production team all the best.”
Aslan later tweeted a response to his show being axed, saying he was disappointed but grateful to CNN.
“However, In these politically charged times, the tenor of our nation’s discourse has become complicated, and I recognize that CNN needs to protect its brand as an unbiased news outlet.”
A number of conservative groups had called for Aslan to be fired, including the Media Research Center.
Following CNN’s announcement, many criticized the decision, however, with some pointing to inconsistencies in the network’s hiring and firing choices.
After calling Trump a “piece of sh**” CNN has announced they’re dropping Reza Aslan’s show.
Reminder: Jeffrey Lord and Corey Lewandowski.
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) June 9, 2017
CNN Drops Reza Aslan Following Anti-Trump Tweets – Variety https://t.co/3S8JGr3uqK The 1st Amd. should go both ways even when I disagree
— Tim Burchett (@timburchett) June 10, 2017
Reza calling the @POTUS a POS is bad form. Calling me the same fair game. I do not think you should be fired. You apologized #FreeSpeechhttps://t.co/VBof8qHsxY
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) June 9, 2017
Trump’s former campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, was hired by CNN after he was caught grabbing Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields.
People objected to his hiring as he had signed a nondisclosure agreement with the Trump campaign, preventing him from criticizing Trump. CNN has also attracted criticism over contributor Jeffrey Lord, who has been accused of racism.
CNN keeps firing people for insulting Trump, but still pays Jeffrey Lord, others to defame entire groups (& only sometimes get corrected). https://t.co/pjfS8JhJlV
— Mike Signorile (@MSignorile) June 9, 2017
Reza Aslan got fired from CNN for calling President Cheeto a piece of shit, yet CNN is somehow cool with employing this guy. pic.twitter.com/zXZpOlgLXZ
— Black Aziz Ansari 👏 (@Freeyourmindkid) June 9, 2017
Cool that CNN hired Corey Lewandowski AFTER he assaulted a reporter, but fired Reza Aslan over a tweet.
— Adrienne Mahsa (@AdrienneMahsa) June 9, 2017
@CNN why havent you fired @realJefferyLord for his #racism? https://t.co/u62Jc6ifxI
— Jeannie Hartley (@Jeannie_Hartley) June 10, 2017
CNN also parted ways with comedian Kathy Griffin for her decision to pose holding a fake bloody head of the president.
The network also suspended reporter Elise Labott for expressing sympathy over a House decision to limit Syrian refugees in 2015.
