WASHINGTON, DC: An old video of the far-left anchor Mehdi Hasan comparing non-Muslims to "animals" and homosexuals to "pedophiles" has resurfaced online as MSNBC and Peacock canceled his Sunday night opinion program, 'The Mehdi Hasan Show,' in a significant shake-up of its weekend lineup.
Due to a significant decline in ratings and criticism surrounding his staunch anti-Israel views, the network terminated his show on November 30.
Hasan, who joined the network in 2021, informed the staff that he would remain with the network as an on-camera analyst and fill-in host, reported The Hill.
A source close to MSNBC told the New York Post that the network is "cutting costs like crazy," which is a "good excuse" to cancel Hasan's show.
However, MSNBC boss Rashida Jones' memo contradicted this. "As Decision 2024 ramps up, the show will provide thoughtful analysis and coverage on the state of our country from three trusted voices familiar to the MSNBC audience," she said.
Ayman Mohyeldin will take over Hasan's Sunday night slot.
Mehdi Hasan's homophobic and offensive remarks resurface online
According to Fox News, New York Post reporter Jon Levine unearthed a 2009 video where Hasan made offensive comments against non-Muslims.
"We know that keeping the moral high ground is key. Once we lose the moral high ground, we are no different from the rest of the non-Muslims, from the rest of those human beings who live their lives as animals, bending any rule to fulfill any desire," he said in the video.
The video circulated last weekend caused uproar due to his strong on-air criticism of Israel as a government that "kills children" during his conversation with Mark Regev, Senior Adviser to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, on November 17.
Hasan once addressed the controversy when the same clip resurfaced in 2019.
"Speaking without notes, & trying to be bombastic, I made stupid sweeping remarks about non-Muslims, especially atheists. I cringe now when I rehearse/reread those remarks."
"I made stupid offensive analogies to animals. Argh. I'm embarrassed to have to write about all this again," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
'Finally did the right thing,' netizens react to MSNBC canceling Mehdi Hasan's show
Social media strongly criticized Hasan for his anti-Israel take on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Many said that it was high time the network decided to remove his show.
One user said, "MSNBC finally did the right thing by canceling Mehdi Hasan. His hateful comments have no place in civil discourse. It's about time they held their hosts accountable."
Another user stated, "MSNBC did the right thing canceling him, his hateful comments should be condemned by all."
"There is no place in society for people like this. Follow if you agree," a third user added.
A user said, "Took long enough."
"I'm glad he's been axed," said one user.
Another stated, "Medhi should have been canceled way before now. Wonder why they waited until now?"
