Just In: A statement from CNN:
“Rick Sanchez is no longer with the company. We thank Rick for his years of service and we wish him well.”
Backstory: Sanchez, who joined CNN in 2004, was let go today after controversial comments he made yesterday during a radio interview. During Pete Dominick‘s satellite radio show yesterday, Sanchez called Comedy Central host Jon Stewart a “bigot” and went on to say, “a lot of people who run all the other networks are a lot like Stewart.” Audio below:
It was just last Friday that Sanchez’s boss CNN/U.S. president Jon Klein was shown the door. In his first major personnel decision, Sanchez’s dismissal was handled by new CNN/U.S. president Ken Jautz. Sanchez anchored the 3-5pmET block on CNN called “Rick’s List.” CNN Newsroom will run in its place beginning Monday. Until last Wednesday, Sanchez had also hosted an 8pmET edition of “Rick’s List.”
Sanchez’s appearance on the radio show was part of a tour for his new book, “Conventional Idiocy.”