NEW YORK — CNN has decided to permanently exclude conservative commentator Ryan Gidursky from its network after a heated on-air confrontation. During a segment, Gidursky made a controversial remark to fellow panelist Mehdi Hasan, stating, “I hope your beeper doesn’t go off.”

Hasan responded with alarm, asking if Gidursky was insinuating that he should die. This comment referred to a recent incident where pagers used by Hezbollah members in both Lebanon and Syria were reported to have exploded, a situation generally attributed to Israeli action.

The discussion took place on “News Night” on Monday, focusing on a rally hosted by Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden. During this event, remarks containing racist undertones were made, with one speaker derogatorily labeling Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.” The dialogue quickly escalated into a tense exchange when Gidursky accused Hasan, a notable commentator and founder of the media company Zeteo, of being labeled an anti-Semite more often than anyone else on set.

CNN host Abby Phillip condemned Gidursky’s comment as “completely out of pocket,” prompting him to apologize shortly after. Nevertheless, following a commercial break, Gidursky was no longer present on the panel.

Phillip also extended an apology to Hasan and the show’s audience, emphasizing that Gidursky had crossed a significant boundary. The discussion revolved around the racist remarks made at the Trump rally, illustrating escalating tensions as the country approaches a highly contentious Election Day, reflecting deep societal and political divisions.

In light of the event, Phillip remarked that “we can hold discussions regarding the current state of our nation without descending to the lowest form of discourse.” CNN reiterated its stance, stating that there is “zero tolerance for racism or bigotry at CNN or on our airwaves,” confirming Gidursky’s ban from the network.

In response, Gidursky took to social media platform X to express his sentiments, asserting that one can continue to appear on CNN while unfairly labeling every Republican a Nazi, but must face repercussions for making a joke. He expressed satisfaction that the public could witness what CNN truly represents.