TheBlaze first suspended, then “permanently banned,” conservative talk show host Tomi Lahren on Wednesday, March 22 , seemingly for for expressing pro-choice sentiments during her guest appearance on ABC’s daytime talk show The View.
A New York Post Page Six report, citing a “Beck associate,” said that Beck “couldn’t sit by and watch as Tomi Lahren said there’s no way for conservatives to justify anything other than being pro-choice.”
The “banning” has not been confirmed by the news network, but official comments have been released regarding Lahren’s suspension status.
TheBlaze founder Glenn Beck explained that other factors motivated Lahren’s suspension. He alluded that the host was a sensationalist who did not understand the implications of her speech on public opinion.
“Speech is not free. It comes with another cost and usually to the other people at the other end of your argument,” Beck said on his radio show. “The pen is mightier than the sword, and it can destroy people if your aim is clicks, views and ratings.”
This experience has made Lahren some unlikely allies. In December, Trevor Noah and Lahren debated her controversial statements on a heated segment of the Daily Show. But, Noah came to Lahren’s defense on his own show and said he was “offended by the hypocrisy” of the news network; a network that frequently criticizes the sensitivity of “snowflakes” to dissenting opinions.
Even those who do not agree with Lahren’s general perspective are outraged by her suspension.
“I think it’s disgusting. Any person losing their job because of a personal and reasonable political belief is absurd,” conservative George Washington University student Duncan Kellogg told MediaFile. “I don’t like her at all, but she has a right to hold a political belief and shouldn’t be punished for that. That’s a dangerous and slippery slope.”
Despite negative comments about feminism and ‘The Day Without Women’ protest, some women have also spoken out against what they feel is an unfair suspension.
@TomiLahren I am a pro-choice conservative too. Come on, conservatives. We can disagree on things, can we not?
— Abby (@_kittyfantastic) March 21, 2017
Girl, I disagree with 95% of what you say, but boy – am I glad it's you saying it. Go blonde badass women! @TomiLahren
— Jayde Lovell (@JaydeLovell) March 22, 2017
The host thanked her Twitter followers who supported her during this time.
It's heartwarming when women, who may disagree on almost everything, put those differences on pause to show support. Feels good. Thank you ❤
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) March 22, 2017
Other reporters were concerned that this one instance would turn Lahren into a figure for the feminist cause in the public’s eyes, and claimed that she did not represent the feminist ideal.
Bustle reporter Cate Carrejo wrote, “given all of her past comments, it’s still a far cry to call her a feminist ally. Feminism is about a lot more than reproductive rights — it encompasses many of the issues Lahren has railed against on her show, like environmental protections, sexual preferences, gender identity, and racial identity.”
In The Daily Show segment Noah also stated that, unfortunately, Lahren is uncomfortable with black people protesting, so he could only do so much in solidarity. George Washington University student Kristine Moise agrees with Noah’s perspective.
“I don’t feel bad about her suspension because she has said many things perpetuated stigmas about people of color,” Moise told MediaFile.
Media analyst Mark Dice reminded those on Twitter that Lahren was originally given a one week suspension with the assumption that she would return – and Lahren still might make a comeback on the network, despite the Page Six report.
https://twitter.com/MarkDice/status/843968281903951872
Lahren has made a near household name for herself through her candid and unfiltered “Final Thoughts” segments on her former talk show – but whether or not the personal opinions of talking heads are to be grounds for job suspension – or if it’s responsible for an outlet like The Blaze to do such – is still up for debate.