Far-left MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan announced Sunday he was leaving the network, just over a month after the liberal network canceled his weekly talk show as part of a broader shakeup of its weekend lineup.
Hasan, who caused controversy by criticizing Israel's war against Hamas, was initially set to remain with the network as an on-camera analyst and substitute, but announced he would be quitting on the final episode of his show.
He briefly referred to the war and the current state of the world and America as he confirmed the decision.
“As we enter 2024, with an election looming, a war still going on, and honestly too many Trump trials to even keep track of, and now that this show is over, I've decided it's time for me to look for a new challenge. ,' he said.
“Tonight is not only my last episode of the Mehdi Hasan Show, it's my last day at MSNBC. Yes, I have decided to leave.'
Far-left MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan announced Sunday he was leaving the network, just over a month after the liberal network canceled his weekly talk show as part of a broader shakeup of its weekend lineup
Hasan said he chose to move in a new direction rather than stay with the left-wing cable news channel.
“To be clear, I am so incredibly proud of what we have accomplished on this show, on this network, and I can't thank you all enough for tuning in and for your support and feedback. But as I say: new year, new plans.'
MSNBC weekday host Chris Hayes Greeted Hasan on X, writes: 'A huge loss for us. An exceptional host and colleague.'
The Sunday evening slot will be replaced by a second hour of a show hosted by Ayman Mohyeldin. Hasan also lost his show on the Peacock streaming service.
Hasan was hired by the network to host the Sunday night show in 2021 and became one of the network's most outspoken liberal critics.
The cancellation comes after Hasan's strong criticism of Israel sparked backlash online.
Earlier in November, Hasan clashed with Mark Regev, senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, telling him that “your government is killing children.”
The presenter also faced pressure after homophobic and offensive comments, including comparing gays to 'paedophiles' and non-Muslims to 'animals', circulated online. Fox News reports this.
MSNBC canceled Hasan's show as part of a broader shake-up of its weekend lineup.
In 2019, Hasan addressed previous controversial comments he had made
'We know that maintaining moral values is crucial. Once we lose the moral high ground, we will no longer be any different from the rest of the non-Muslims, from the rest of those people who live their lives like animals and bend every rule to fulfill every desire,” Hasan said in an unearthed excerpt . from 2009.
Hasan previously addressed the controversy when it resurfaced in 2019.
On X, formerly Twitter, the journalist said: 'Like many journalists (people?) I said things years ago that I now deeply regret.
'The most important of these for me is that more than ten years ago, when I was not yet a public figure, I gave a number of speeches to students about Islam/extremism. And I said stupid, offensive things.
'Speaking without notes, and in an attempt to be bombastic, I made stupid, sweeping comments about non-Muslims, especially atheists.
'I cringe now when I repeat/re-read those comments. I made stupid, offensive animal analogies. Argh. I'm ashamed to have to write about this again.'
Hasan, who caused controversy by criticizing Israel's war against Hamas, was initially set to remain with the network as an on-camera analyst and fill-in, but announced he would be quitting on the final episode of his show.
Hasan was hired by the network to host the Sunday night show in 2021 and became one of the network's most outspoken liberal critics
He added: “Growing up in a conservative religious community, where you didn't have contact with *real* gay people, I ended up making insensitive comments, for which I have previously apologized.”
In a letter to staff in late November, MSNBC President Rashida Jones said the changes were made “to better position ourselves as we head into the presidential election.”
MSNBC lost 33 percent of its primetime viewers during its coverage of Israel's Hamas war.
The channel's ratings dropped a total of 24 percent during the four days between October 7 and 10, when the war between Israel and Hamas terrorists broke out.
By comparison, the shocking events spurred a jump in viewership at Fox News, which rose 42 percent, and at CNN, where viewership rose 17 percent.