NEW YORK (AP) — CNN cut ties with author and television host Reza Aslan on Friday, less than a week after he profanely referred to President Donald Trump in a tweet about the London terror attacks.
The network said it was not continuing with a second season of “Believer,” Aslan’s series about different religions, which premiered last year. Only two weeks ago CNN dumped comedian Kathy Griffin, co-host of its annual New Year’s Eve celebration, when she was photographed holding a depiction of Trump’s severed head.
Angered about Trump’s social media commentary on the London terror attacks, Aslan tweeted last Saturday that “this piece of s— is not just an embarrassment to America and a stain on the presidency, he’s an embarrassment to humankind.”Aslan also tweeted that Trump was a “man baby that must be ignored in times of crisis.”
The Iranian-born author later apologized “for my choice of words,” and CNN issued a statement saying “that kind of discourse is never appropriate.” But it wasn’t enough to save his show.
In a statement on Friday, Aslan said he was grateful to CNN for giving his series a chance.
“In these politically charged times, the tenor of our nation’s discourse has become complicated,” he said. “And I recognize that CNN needs to protect its brand as an unbiased news outlet. Similarly, I need to honor my voice. I am not a journalist. I am a social commentator and a scholar.”
How sad…Those that tell the truth get sacked, those that lie get promoted (i.e.: Man Baby Trump).
They do tend to fall upward.
I would be okay with this and with CNN trying to project neutrality and all – if they hadn’t hired Corey Lewadowski
If CNN truly cared about being seen as “unbiased” they wouldn’t let Trump surrogates bald faced lie on their shows and sit there grinning like idiots and let it pass and then finish the “interview” with some stupid platitude like “It’s always a pleasure to have you on the show!” And letting the lie stand as a valid statement.
If they really cared about their “image” They’d sack up, call out the liars, and ask real questions and demand real and truthful answers…
But no, I guess it’s more worthwhile to fire people who say mean yet truthful things about our asshat of a president.
That was then…