The Hill fired its progressive online show host after she appeared to roll her eyes while interviewing the sister of an Israeli woman kidnapped and held hostage by Hamas.
“It finally happened. The Hill has fired me,” Briahna Joy Gray said on X Thursday, posted with an image of her notice of termination from the outlet.
She said, “There should be no doubt that @RisingHill has a clear pattern of suppressing speech — particularly when it’s critical of the state of Israel.”
The Washington Times reached out to The Hill’s parent company Nexstar for comment and did not immediately hear back.
Ms. Gray’s termination from The Hill’s YouTube program happened following a flood of online criticism she received over her treatment of Yarden Gonen, sister of Israeli hostage Romi Gonen, who was kidnapped by Hamas militants during the terrorist attack on southern Israel last Oct. 7.
Ms. Gray, who previously served as press secretary for Sen. Bernie Sanders, Vermont independent, apparently rolled her eyes and cut off Ms. Yarden when she told the host that she hoped Ms. Gray believed women who claim Hamas sexually assaulted them.
“I really hope that you, specifically, will believe women when they say that they got hurt,” she said.
Ms. Gray replied, “Alright, thanks for joining. Stick around.”
Although Ms. Gray attempted to steer the interview towards Israel’s response in Gaza, Ms. Yarden kept saying she did not want to discuss the politics in the region and preferred instead to highlight the hostage crisis and her sister’s plight.
“I am here to talk about my sister. Please help me spread her story. Help me make people understand what she is going through as a woman in 2024,” she said.
Ms. Gray said at one point during the interview, “I really do hope that Netanyahu agrees and Israel agrees to a cease-fire or deal that could bring all the hostages home, including your sister.” She added, “And I’m sure many people watching are praying for her safety.”
Ms. Gray received a wave of criticism from social media users online, who called her antisemitic for her behavior towards Ms. Yarden.
“The way Brianna Joy Gray sneers and rolls her eyes at Israeli pain paints a picture of dehumanization,” said the Anti-Defamation League’s Carly Pildis.
Rep. Ritchie Torres, New York Democrat said, “The family member of an Israeli hostage pleads with Briahna Joy Gray to believe Jewish women who have been abducted, tortured, and raped by Hamas.”
He said, “I have as much sympathy for Briahna Joy Gray as she has for the hostages. None.”