It’s going from bad to worse for “unbiased” CNN staffers who just happen to have a vendetta with the president.
Last week, after the latest London terrorist attack, in response to a Trump tweet suggesting that the terrorist attack is confirmation of the need for Trump’s “travel ban”, CNN host Reza Aslan flipped out, and slammed the president on Twitter, saying in a since deleted tweet, “This piece of shit is not just an embarrassment to America and a stain on the presidency. He’s an embarrassment to humankind.“
Less than a week later, Aslan was fired by CNN, which according to Variety, no longer believes in “Believer,” the non-fiction series it launched earlier this year with Reza Aslan, the Iranian-American author and religious scholar. “Believer” would have entered a second season if it had been picked up.
CNN spokeswoman confirms that the network has parted ways with @RezaAslan, who posted profane anti-Trump tweets. Story coming shortly
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) June 9, 2017
“CNN has decided to not move forward with production on the acquired series ‘Believer with Reza Aslan,’” the network said in a statement. “We wish Reza and his production team all the best. “
After Aslan’s Saturday outburst, the host apologized, saying, “I should have used better language to express my shock and frustration at the president’s lack of decorum and sympathy for the victims of London. I apologize for my choice of words” but that appears to not have been enough for CNN, whose credibility suffered one of its worst weeks in history, after it was forced to retract a recent report on James Comey’s testimony – based on “anonymous source” – which was quickly exposed as being “fake news” by Comey himself.
“Obviously I am very disappointed in this decision. ‘Believer’ means a great deal to me and to the countless viewers it’s reached. Its message of religious tolerance and exploration is extremely important right now. I am deeply grateful to CNN for giving me the opportunity to launch the show and to amplify my voice on their network. I am especially grateful to the legion of people within the Turner organization who worked so hard to make the show a hit series,” said Aslan, in a prepared statement.
”However, in these politically charged times, the tenor of our nation’s discourse has become complicated, 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 scholar. And so I agree with CNN that it is best that we part ways. I look forward to partnering with another platform in the future to continue to spread my message. I wish CNN all the best.”
Aslan’s termination comes shortly after CNN also parted ways with another of its hosts, Kathy Griffin. CNN said it said Griffin would no longer be part of CNN’s annual New Year’s Eve broadcast, a day after pictures surfaced on social media of Griffin holding a bloody head resembling President Trump.
And some Friday humor: in January, CNN conducted an internal brand survey, eager to find out whether remarks made by Trump suggesting CNN offered“fake news” had any sort of lasting impact on prospective viewers. “There has been no diminution whatsoever in the CNN brand,” Zucker said to reporters in February. “It’s as strong as it’s ever been. It’s incredibly trusted and we see no impact whatsoever in all of those attacks on the CNN brand.”