CNN has ended its relationship with special series host Reza Aslan following an uproar over his comments about President Donald Trump.
“CNN has decided to not move forward with production on the acquired series ‘Believer with Reza Aslan,’” the network said in a statement. “We wish Reza and his production team all the best.”
Aslan’s special six-part series called “Believer” launched in January and had just finished its first season; it was scheduled for a second season. Variety first reported that the network would drop the series.
After Trump reacted to last week’s London terror attack by promoting his travel ban, Aslan tweeted that Trump is a “piece of sh--" who “is not just an embarrassment to America and a stain on the presidency. He’s an embarrassment to humankind.”
Aslan later apologized, saying he had “lost my cool.”
In a statement posted on Twitter, Aslan wrote that he is “very disappointed in this decision.”
“Believer means a great deal to me and to the countless viewers it’s reached. 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,” Aslan wrote.
“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.”
Aslan is the second CNN-affiliated host to lose their gig in the past few weeks. Comedian Kathy Griffin, who co-hosted CNN’s New Year’s Eve special, was dropped by the network after she posed with a fake bloody head resembling Trump.