'Bonfire of the liberals': New York Magazine faces backlash for 'banning' conservative columnist Andrew Sullivan from writing about anti-racism riots - or face the sack

New York Magazine is facing backlash after it allegedly banned a conservative commentator from writing about anti-racism protests that have taken over the US. 

Andrew Sullivan, a British journalist, announced on Thursday that the latest installment of his column in New York Magazine would not be running this week. 

He did not publicly state why the column was cancelled, but an explanation was outlined in a scathing post on Cockburn, an American blog run by the UK-based Spectator outlet, which frequently publishes Sullivan's work.    

'Sullivan revealed on Twitter yesterday that his column wouldn't be appearing. The reason? His editors are not allowing him to write about the riots,' the post claims. 

'Presumably Sullivan's editors are frightened that he might make the radically bourgeois point that looting and violence are wrong.'

New York Magazine did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment about Sullivan's column. 

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New York Magazine is facing backlash after it allegedly banned conservative columnist Andrew Sullivan (pictured) from writing about anti-racism protests that have taken over the US

Sullivan revealed on Thursday that his column won't run in New York Magazine this week

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Cockburn, a blog run by UK-based news outlet The Spectator, alleged that New York Magazine would not allow Sullivan to write about the riots. Pictured: Demonstrators destroy a car near the White House in Washington, DC, on May 31

The Cockburn blog charged that Sullivan's contract with New York Magazine states that he cannot write about the riots for any other publication - or else he can lose his job.

The blog cited a source 'close to New York Magazine' who said Sullivan 'has to have his work vetted by sensitive junior editors to make sure it doesn't trigger them. 

'If it passes their sniff testing, it can be published.' 

Sullivan's Twitter account is studded with criticisms of recent protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck during an arrest on May 25. 

While many of the protests have been peaceful, others have devolved into violence with businesses burned and looted. 

Sullivan has retweeted several posts and videos of destruction in progress, with comments calling out their distinction from peaceful protests. 

The Cockburn blog accused New York magazine and other media outlets of censoring voices outside the mainstream, like Sullivan's. 

'It's the bonfire of the liberals!' the post states.  

'Who cares about the First Amendment? Not the Maoists who are marching through NYC's media institutions. 

'Safetyism is their creed. Sullivan may be a very small "c" conservative, in some ways, but he is really a committed liberal — an Obama-loving gay man who thinks that Trump's "dangerous fantasies" threaten America.'

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Sullivan's Twitter account is studded with criticisms of recent protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck during an arrest on May 25. Pictured: A protest in Atlanta on May 29

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While many of the protests have been peaceful, others have devolved into violence with businesses burned and looted. Pictured: A car burns in Minneapolis on May 30

Several commenters on Sullivan's tweet shared Cockburn's frustration at the column being canceled. 

'Maybe i am somewhat blinded by my red glasses .... but it seems to me that the left has resorted to a lot of nastiness and are very close-minded,' one man wrote. 'They kill on Trump for his insults .... and then constantly use insults towards his supporters. 

'And then there is the issue of not even listening to opposing views. i've always believed that a redeeming value in America is the right to have your own opinion. the left is almost violently opposed to those beliefs now. crazy.' 

Another tweeted: 'We love you, Andrew Sullivan: can't think of a single thing we agree on politically, but I ALWAYS read and ALWAYS learn when you're writing. I'm always interested in what you think.'    

But many of the commenters were glad to see that the column wouldn't be running. 

'Thanks for the update, can we hope to see this improved editorial arrangement become a permanent feature?' one asked. 

'It will not be missed,' another tweeted. 

DailyMail.com has reached out to Sullivan for comment.   

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Several commenters on Sullivan's tweet voiced frustration at the column being canceled

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But many of the commenters were glad to see that the column wouldn't be running