Sanchez fired from CNN after Sirius XM interview

story by MarketWatch
written by Ronald D. Orol
photo of Rick Sanchez by wireimage

CNN said late Friday that Rick Sanchez was no longer with the company.

Published reports said the move came after a radio interview Sanchez gave on a Sirius XM Radio Inc. /quotes/comstock/15*!siri (SIRI 1.24, +0.04, +3.33%) radio show where he called Comedy Central late-night host Jon Stewart a “bigot” and indicated that the media industry is controlled by Jews.

“Rick Sanchez is no longer with the company,” CNN said in a statement. “We thank Rick for his years of service and we wish him well.”

Sanchez, who has been a TV anchor with CNN since 2004, was often derided by Stewart on his show, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

CNN, which is owned by Time Warner Inc. /quotes/comstock/13*!twx/quotes/nls/twx (TWX 30.61, -0.04, -0.13%) , changed its leadership structure last week and said it will telecast “CNN Newsroom” during Sanchez’s 3-5 p.m. time period “for the foreseeable future.”