MPAC Strongly Condemns Anti-Muslim Remarks on CNN, Calls for Greater Media Accountability

Washington, D.C. | www.mpac.org | October 29, 2024 — The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) unequivocally condemns the reprehensible remarks made by right-wing commentator Ryan Girdusky on CNN's "NewsNight." Targeted at journalist Mehdi Hasan, Girdusky's statement, "I hope your beeper doesn’t go off," alludes to a wave of deadly explosions that killed nine and injured thousands in Lebanon. Girdusky’s remark is not merely offensive; it is a dangerous act of vilification that perpetuates destructive stereotypes of Muslims and Palestinians, and the dehumanization and violence against entire communities. Such rhetoric is intolerable in the midst of a high-stakes election environment. 

These remarks are deeply troubling and indicative of a wider disturbing pattern across mainstream media, social media, political speech, and public discourse. Recently, Ta-Nehisi Coates shared a similar experience on CBS, pointing to the ways marginalized communities are subjected to harmful narratives in prominent spaces. This pattern ultimately normalizes Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian sentiment, and hate speech directed at Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian communities.

MPAC has repeatedly documented and reported on the harmful rhetoric used by media networks and politicians that target our communities. These networks must uphold strict, uncompromising standards to ensure their platforms do not become breeding grounds for bigotry. While we acknowledge CNN’s decision to ban Girdusky, this incident highlights the critical need for more assertive and proactive measures to cultivate a media environment where discriminatory incidents are not only condemned but are systematically eliminated. 

The Muslim Public Affairs Council calls on all media organizations and public figures to actively challenge the normalization of hate speech and misinformation. It is essential to adopt and enforce extensive training on cultural sensitivity and the impacts of stigmatizing language. By committing to these standards, media companies can truly help build a society that prioritizes understanding, respect, and equality for all communities.