Who Is Reza Aslan? After Anti-Trump Tweets CNN Drops Host's Show

CNN announced Friday that Reza Aslan's show "Believer" was being dropped by the network after the outspoken critic of the president called Trump a "piece of s---" and an “embarrassment to humankind” after the terrorist attack at London Bridge last weekend.

Following the criticism for his remark, Aslan retracted and apologized for the statement, saying in a subsequent tweet that he "lost his cool" after the president tweeted about the travel ban in response to the terrorist attack in London on June 3.

"I should not have used a profanity to describe the President when responding to his shocking reaction to the #LondonAttacks," Aslan tweeted attached to his full statement.

CNN made the announcement to cancel "Believer" on Friday, wishing Aslan "all the best".

“CNN has decided to not move forward with production on the acquired series ‘Believer’ with Reza Aslan,” the network said in a news release on Friday. “We wish Reza and his production team all the best.”

Who Is Reza Aslan?

Aslan, 45, is an Iranian-American religious scholar and practicing Muslim, who has written three books about religion, "No God but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam" (2005), "How to Win a Cosmic War "(2009) and "Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth" (2013).

His personal religious experience and scholarly attitude make his exploration of religion a flashpoint for his books and show "Believer." Aslan was born into a Shia Muslim family. As a teenager, he converted to evangelical Christianity before converting back to Islam later in life.

Aslan's public persona gained notoriety after engaging in a heated battle about Christianity on Fox News' webcast "Spirited Debate" in July 2013. On the webcast he took on Chief Religion Correspondent Lauren Green about his book "Zealot."

Green questioned Aslan's credentials in July 2013, asking him why a Muslim would write a book about Jesus. He responded: “Because it’s my job as an academic. I am a professor of religion, including the New Testament. That’s what I do for a living, actually.”

The clip went viral and "Zealot," which, up to that point, had been selling steadily, shot up to fourth on the New York Times' best-seller hardcover list in the immediate aftermath of the interview. By the end of the month, the book was at the top of the list.

READ: CNN Ousted 'Believer' Host Reza Aslan For Calling Trump 'A Piece Of S--T' In A Tweet

"Believer" Controversy

He finished one season of "Believer" in 2016 and was billed as a “spiritual travel series,” which saw him explore different obscure cults and sects that are on the fringes of mainstream religions.

The episode that featured the Aghori of Hinduism gained a large amount of criticism from the Hindu community and American politicians after it showed Aslan eating human brains with an Aghori sadhu.

Aseem Shukla of the Hindu American Foundation accused Aslan of being "poorly informed" and compared the scene to Indiana Jones.

"Eating monkey brains in the movie 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom' pales when you find a jumpy, naked hermit willing to give chase," wrote Shukla.

Shukla also posted on Twitter that the show reminded him of "religion porn."

"Redemptive lines at the end, but I can't get over the stereotypes of caste, exoticization of asceticism and religion porn," he tweeted.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a burgeoning Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, also had harsh words for the episode, comparing it to "touring a zoo." Aslan later defended the episode on Facebook saying "caste discrimination is a very real thing, and the attempts by the Aghor to overcome it using the principles of Hindu spirituality is important to highlight."

READ: Kathy Griffin's Trump Beheaded Photo: 8 Celebrities Supporting The Comedian After Controversy

Aslan Responds To CNN Firing

Aslan responded with disappointment and noted that the network's decision is due to "politically charged times," and has to "protect its brand" as "an unbiased news outlet."

“Obviously I am very disappointed in this decision,” he wrote in a public statement released on Twitter. “However, in these politically charged times, the tenor of our nation’s discourse has become complicated, and I recognize that CNN needs to protect its brand as an unbiased news outlet.”

Aslan continued in the statement, noting that he should "honor" his voice and that the parting was "for the best."

“Similarly, I need to honor my voice,” he continued. “I am not a journalist. I am a social commentator and scholar. And so I agree with CNN that it is best that we part ways."

The decision to let go of Aslan comes a little over a week after the network decided to sever ties with comedian Kathy Griffin on May 31, after she posted a picture holding the president's head.

”We were shocked and disappointed to learn about the image Ms. Griffin shared today, it was deeply inappropriate and runs contrary to the core values our company stands for,” read a statement from CNN.