ESPN immediately cut to commercial break during Tuesday’s “First Take” as Stephen A. Smith brought up the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in response to the ongoing NBA controversy surrounding Rockets general manger Daryl Morey and his since-deleted pro-Hong Kong tweet.

Network president Jimmy Pitaro in the past has urged his employees to stay away from politics, and a memo reportedly was sent out repeating the same message in light of Morey showing support for pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

Morey’s tweet has created a headache for the NBA, which has numerous business interests in China. ESPN and the NBA have a multibillion-dollar broadcasting agreement.

“Before we close,” Smith said, “I would remind you that, throughout this world, one of the things that exists is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I don’t see folks outside of the Jewish community talking about that too often.”

Smith, one of the network’s most popular voices, was then cut off by co-host Molly Qerim.

“Let’s take a commercial break,” Qerim said. She added, “sometimes obviously our moral compass trumps business interests,” before bringing up Colin Kaepernick, the former 49ers quarterback who has been out of the NFL since protesting social injustice and police brutality.

Other ESPN talking heads have gotten in hot water for voicing their political opinions on air, including most recently Dan LeBatard, and Jemele Hill, who is no longer with the network.

Morey has since apologized for the tweet: “I was merely voicing one thought, based on one interpretation, of one complicated event. I have had a lot of opportunity since that tweet to hear and consider other perspectives.”

Israel and the Palestinian territories have been fighting over land control since the early 20th century.