CNN banned conservative commentator Ryan Girdusky from the network after he made a racist remark on-air toward fellow guest Mehdi Hasan.

On Monday’s episode of CNN NewsNight with Abby PhillipGirdusky and Hasan argued over rhetoric used during Republican presidential bid Donald Trumpat Madison Square Garden, where comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico, a “floating island of garbage”.

The discussion took a negative turn after Hasan said he supported the Palestinians. In response, Girdusky told Hasan, “I hope your beeper doesn’t go off,” referring to recent reports that Israel hid explosives in pagers to target Hezbollah members in Lebanon.

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Hasan, a Muslim journalist who founded the media company Zeteo, responded, stunned: “Did you just say I should die? Did you just say I should be killed on live television?

Girdusky backtracked and Phillip tried to contain the situation, telling Girdusky that his remark was “completely out of pocket.”

In response to the segment, CNN released a statement saying Girdusky “will not be welcome on our network.” And “there is no place for racism or intolerance on CNN on our airwaves,” the statement said. “We aim to foster thoughtful conversations and debate, including between people who deeply disagree with each other, to explore important issues and promote mutual understanding. But we will not allow guests to be demeaned or the line of courtesy is crossed.”

Phillip also published a apologies to viewers after commercial break after the segment, revealing that Girdusky had been asked to leave. “I want to apologize to Mehdi Hasan for what was said at that table. It was completely unacceptable,” Phillip said. “When we start this discussion, you will see that Ryan is not at the table. There is a line that has been crossed there, and it is not acceptable to me, it is not acceptable to us in this network.”

Girdusky, for his part, has since fired back at the network, saying it was a “joke.” He wrote on social networks after the segment, “You can stay on CNN if you falsely call all Republicans Nazis and have received money from Qatar-funded media. Apparently you can’t go on CNN if you make a joke .I’m glad America can see what CNN stands for.”