Ryan Girdusky to Mehdi Hasan, “I Hope Your Beeper Doesn’t Go Off.”

Conservative commentator and author Ryan Girdusky has been banned from CNN after telling journalist Mehdi Hasan, “I hope your beeper doesn’t go off” during a live panel discussion on CNN’s “NewsNight with Abby Phillip” this past Monday.

The remark was in reference to an Israeli operation in which exploding beepers in Lebanon killed dozens and injured thousands, including children.

In a statement released by CNN after the incident, the station insisted, there is “zero room for racism or bigotry at CNN or on our air.” As for Girdusky, he “will not be welcomed back at our network.”

“We aim to foster thoughtful conversations and debate including between people who profoundly disagree with each other in order to explore important issues and promote mutual understanding,” the CNN statement continued.