An explosive report that MSNBC yanked a trio of Muslim hosts off the air after Palestinian terror group Hamas massacred over 1,000 Israeli civilians last weekend has sparked outrage amid denials that they have been silenced.
In a bombshell that’s rattled the cages of left-wingers, Semafor alleged that Mehdi Hasan, Ali Velshi and Ayman Mohyeldin have been moved out of their usual spots as the Jewish nation has commenced its military operation to clean the terrorists out of Gaza.
MSNBC has quietly taken 3 of its Muslim broadcasters out of the anchor’s chair since Hamas’s attack on Israel.
My story and this + internal tension among NBCU staff over how to talk about last week’s attack and what’s going on in Gaza: https://t.co/txX21hNdAG
— Max Tani (@maxwelltani) October 13, 2023
“MSNBC has quietly taken three of its Muslim broadcasters out of the anchor’s chair since Hamas’s attack on Israel last Saturday amid America’s wave of sympathy for Israeli terror victims,” wrote reporter Max Tani, breaking down the three anti-Israel hosts being moved around.
“Some staff at MSNBC have been concerned by the moves, feeling all three hosts have some of the deepest knowledge of the conflict. NBC says the shifts are coincidental, and the three continue to appear on air to report and provide analysis,” the report states.
An MSNBC “vehemently pushed back” against the report that the MSNBC Muslims have been benched at the early stages of the Israel-Hamas war with American sentiment running strongly in favor of America’s critical Middle East ally.
“We have and will continue to cover the barbaric terrorist attacks on defenseless civilians in Israel last weekend and the tragic war it has provoked thoroughly and in all their dimensions,” NBCUniversal Executive Vice President of Communications Stephen Labaton said in a statement to Semafor.
But former Republican congressman and Trump-bashing radio host Joe Walsh said that his sources told him that it was true and that the trio had been removed from their hosting spots, which he described as “bullsh*t” while defending their professionalism.
I’ve been told this is true. That @MSNBC has silenced three of its Muslim broadcasters since the Hamas attack. This is utter bullshit. This is wrong. @AliVelshi, @mehdirhasan, & @AymanM are total pros – objective, tough, fair journalists. I may disagree on their perspective on… https://t.co/2U7ixeTsrd
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) October 14, 2023
Leftists flooded the zone on X, formerly known as Twitter, to rage over the Semafor report.
“Muslims face routine discrimination and silencing campaigns based on our religion,” wrote “Squad” member Rep. Ilhan Omar alleging anti-Muslim bigotry had reared its head at the Democrat propaganda network.
Muslims face routine discrimination and silencing campaigns based on our religion.
MSNBC is one of the few networks to give Muslim-Americans a prominent platform. This is a shocking decision that runs counter to our values of a free and open press. I hope it will be reversed. https://t.co/M2CTb6acKa
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) October 14, 2023
“MSNBC is one of the few networks to give Muslim-Americans a prominent platform. This is a shocking decision that runs counter to our values of a free and open press. I hope it will be reversed,” added the Jew-hating congresswoman.
More reactions.
The fact MSNBC suspended three Muslim anchors demonstrates the phoniness of corporate “diversity”
Hasan, Mohyeldin, and Velshi were accepted as long as they projected the view of their bosses. The minute they brought genuine diversity—via their own opinions—they were punished
— Anya Parampil (@anyaparampil) October 14, 2023
This is horrific. I have no words left. This is blatant anti-Muslim racism. Shame on you @MSNBC – and shame on this industry for illustrating again and again that we, as Muslims, are not welcome to work in this industry. @mehdirhasan @AymanM @AliVelshi https://t.co/bmuUUf94tX
— Sana Saeed (@SanaSaeed) October 13, 2023
This is racism. This is dangerous. This is journalistic malpractice. I hope other hosts on the network—people like @chrislhayes, @JoyAnnReid, @maddow, @Lawrence, and @alexwagner—stand up for their Muslim colleagues and walk out until MSNBC reverses this indefensible decision. https://t.co/l2AxxjBM8r
— Abdallah Fayyad (@abdallah_fayyad) October 13, 2023
Insanity.
3 Muslim hosts taken off air by MSNBC, not for supporting Hamas(none of them did) but for the crime of holding Israel to the same standard as Hamas.
Eliminated all Muslim/Arab representation entirely while covering a conflict in Middle east.https://t.co/IE6qK4puYZ
— Saad. (@ThisMyHandle) October 14, 2023
If you’re a Muslim American anchor or commentator you’re presumed to be biased and unreliable by virtue of your religious identity. Same standard doesn’t apply to Jewish or Christian anchors who are presumed to be neutral and without bias especially during this crisis. https://t.co/6KZzsbPwbO
— Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) October 13, 2023
America doesn’t believe in free speech. It believes in cancel culture.
If MSNBC allows a Muslim to voice their opinion on the channel the Right Wing will exploit it and keep crying and saying the channel is supporting terrorism.
No wonder so many people in America are…
— Abu Ayoub (@SimplySeerah) October 14, 2023
The report comes as MSNBC experiences a ratings bloodbath in the immediate aftermath of the Hamas attack as news consumers seek out more reliable sources for their information than the ultra-biased coverage that the network specializes in.
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