
CNN officially announced Friday that it is firing Iranian-American author, producer and host Reza Aslan just weeks following the firing of comedian Kathy Griffin.
“CNN has decided to not move forward with production on the acquired series ‘Believer with Reza Aslan,’” CNN said in a statement. “We wish Reza and his production team all the best.”
“'Believer' means a great deal to me and to the countless viewers it’s reached," Aslan said in his own statement on Twitter. "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."
“However, in these politically charged times, the tenor of our nation’s discourse has become complicated, and I recognized that CNN needs to protect its brand as an unbiased outlet. Similarly, I need to honor my voice,” he continued. “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 and to continue to spread my message. I wish CNN all the best.”
The internet was furious as CNN is being seen as taking things too far and being hypocritical when it comes to conservative commentators like Jeffrey Lord, Kayleigh McEnany and former Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA), all of whom have made inappropriate comments in the past and maintained their positions at CNN.
Check out the harsh reaction to CNN below:
CNN keeps firing people for insulting Trump, but still pays Jeffrey Lord, others to defame entire groups (& only so… https://t.co/z5BItJtdcb— Michelangelo Signorile (@Michelangelo Signorile) 1497038320.0
@politico @rezaaslan And yet CNN continues to pay Kayleigh McEnany and Jeffrey Lord to lie on camera on a daily basis.— Eric Stoltz 🏳️🌈 (@Eric Stoltz 🏳️🌈) 1497039348.0
The @CNN program director who allows Jeffrey Lord to keep his job but fired Reza Aslan for anti-Trump tweets. https://t.co/HDnyCeAHMY— Trump's not my Pres (@Trump's not my Pres) 1497039329.0
@brianstelter So @CNN fires @rezaaslan for speaking an obvious truth, but Lord is allowed to continue to spew his nonsense? Got it.— Dave Miller (@Dave Miller) 1497038841.0
Yet they employ that CREEP Jeffrey Lord? And Lewanduski, who assaults women? @rezaaslan got screwed. #TrumpISaPOS… https://t.co/AC1iGlx1oc— Nevertheless, Karah. (@Nevertheless, Karah.) 1497038623.0
So who was the piece of shit over at @CNN who fired @rezaaslan? Does Jeffrey Lord still have a job? https://t.co/yk2yM6TRWI— Trump Hates Us All 🇺🇸 (@Trump Hates Us All 🇺🇸) 1497038424.0
@brianstelter @rezaaslan Zucker keeps DJT comrades like Jeffery Lord on because he has admitted he's more intereste… https://t.co/FEPBHmNq2h— Mavs Fan (@Mavs Fan) 1497038222.0
Jeffrey Lord gets an eyeroll for routinely spouting utter nonsense--and later an apology even for that. Reza Aslan gets fired for one word.— David Burr Gerrard (@David Burr Gerrard) 1497038013.0
@CNN You're dumping Reza Aslan while still keeping on Jeffrey Lord and Corey Lewandowski? Yeah, you lost the moral high ground.— Daniel Ben-Zvi (@Daniel Ben-Zvi) 1497037443.0
@brianstelter @JessicaHuseman @rezaaslan Corey Lewandowski is cool though, right?— Maren (@Maren) 1497039412.0
@brianstelter @rezaaslan @CNNMoney Is the the same CNN who hired Corey Lewandowski after he assaulted a reporter?— Kevin Weaver (@Kevin Weaver) 1497038881.0
@brianstelter @rezaaslan but Jeffrey Lords's racism is okay? Corey Lewandoski abuse is okay? Are you the Trump News Network now?— melissa “cancel student debt” byrne (@melissa “cancel student debt” byrne) 1497037841.0
@brianstelter @rezaaslan Hey Brian, does the network have any comment regarding why they hired Corey Lewandowski af… https://t.co/XX0YjGzNQA— Conor Dirks (@Conor Dirks) 1497037576.0