Prominent Muslim journalist Mehdi Hasan bid farewell to MSNBC on Sunday during his final episode of "The Mehdi Hasan Show." The network had previously announced that it would be canceling his late-night opinion show as part of a broader shakeup. Hasan, known for his fiery interviews with politicos, expressed his decision to leave the network, stating, "Yes, I"ve decided to leave." The cancellation of his show came at a time when Hasan was openly criticizing Israel for its actions in Gaza, leading Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna to suggest that it was "bad optics" for MSNBC.

During his final broadcast, Hasan expressed gratitude to his viewers and the team of producers who worked on the show. He also mentioned that the upcoming year, with an election and ongoing conflicts, presented an opportunity for new challenges. Prior to his time at MSNBC, Hasan had worked for Al Jazeera English and hosted a podcast at The Intercept.

Hasan's departure from MSNBC comes after the network's decision to scrap his show due to declining ratings and as part of a larger restructuring. The news of his departure was unexpected, as it was previously believed that he would continue to appear as an on-camera analyst and fill in as a host on other shows. The network confirmed Hasan's departure but declined to provide further comment.

The cancellation of Hasan's show and his subsequent departure from MSNBC sparked controversy and concern among supporters. The Progressive Change Campaign Committee launched a petition campaign in protest, and U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar expressed her worry, stating that it was troubling to see his show canceled amid a rise in anti-Muslim bigotry and the suppression of Muslim voices.

As Hasan bids farewell to MSNBC, the network plans to extend Ayman Mohyeldin's show by an hour into Hasan's old time slot. Mohyeldin, another Muslim journalist, will fill the void left by Hasan's departure. The network has not provided any additional details regarding the decision to cancel Hasan's show or his departure.

During his final episode, Hasan interviewed Motaz Azaiza, a Palestinian photographer who discussed the dangers of working in Gaza during Israeli military operations. Hasan also shared a report on social media about Palestinian children losing limbs and expressed his outrage at the level of human suffering. While Hasan did not provide specific details about his future plans, he mentioned that he was proud of the achievements on his show and expressed gratitude to his viewers for their support.

Overall, Hasan's departure from MSNBC marks the end of an era for his late-night opinion show. As he embarks on a new chapter in his career, the network faces the challenge of filling the void left by his departure and addressing concerns about the cancellation of his show.