The former host of CNN’s Believer might be praying for a new job.
CNN has cut ties with Resa Azlan after he made derogatory remarks about the President on Twitter last week. The decision has drawn criticism from free speech advocates on the left and the right.
The host of Believer with Reza Aslan tweeted that Donald Trump was a “piece of s—” after the President responded to the terror attacks in London by, among other things, using it as justification for his controversial travel ban.
We need to be smart, vigilant and tough. We need the courts to give us back our rights. We need the Travel Ban as an extra level of safety!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 3, 2017
I should not have used a profanity to describe the President when responding to his shocking reaction to the #LondonAttacks. My statement: pic.twitter.com/pW69jjpoZy
— Reza Aslan (@rezaaslan) June 4, 2017
Aslan, an Iranian-American religious scholar, said in the now-deleted tweet that Trump was “not just an embarrassment to America and a stain on the presidency. He’s an embarrassment to humankind,” according to Mashable. The next day, he apologized for the offensive remarks.
His firing, which he confirmed via Twitter Friday, came days after CNN cut ties with Kathy Griffin, another personality who made a controversial statement about the President.
CNN’s decision has garnered some backlash from media personalities across the aisle. Both Rosie O’Donnel and Fox News host Sean Hannity criticized Aslan’s firing.
My statement about the cancellation of #Believer pic.twitter.com/ITtXAyQwd5
— Reza Aslan (@rezaaslan) June 9, 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 #FreeSpeech https://t.co/VBof8qHsxY
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) June 9, 2017
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