CNN is receiving backlash for a segment on CNN Tonight with Don Lemon in which commentators referred to Kanye West as 'the token negro of the Trump administration.'

Ahead of the rappers' visit to the White House Thursday, host Don Lemon asked a panel on his show Tuesday night if President Trump is 'using Kanye as a prop to win over black voters before the midterms.'

Political commentator Bakari Sellers, who is black, responded: 'Anti-intellectualism simply isn't cool. Kanye West is what happens when negros don't read,' he said referencing a Chris Rock stand-up routine from the 1990s.

Another commentator Tara Setmayer, who is also black, said: 'Now all of the sudden because he's put on a MAGA hat and he's an attention w***e like the president, he's all of a sudden the model spokesperson. He's the token negro of the Trump administration.'

.@Bakari_Sellers: "My issue with Kanye West is quite simple -- is that anti-intellectualism simply isn't cool." https://t.co/FVeCRODqXl pic.twitter.com/rhH5nWSubZ — CNN Tonight (@CNNTonight) October 10, 2018

A segment appeared on Tuesday night's CNN Tonight with Don Lemon in which a black commentator said Kanye is 'the token negro of the Trump administration'

The rapper has revealed in recent months that he suffers from Bipolar Disorder

CNN is not under fire as Don Jr tweeted that the commentators were 'mocking him' and journalists claim they are making fun of his mental health

'Black folks are about to trade Kanye West in the racial draft, okay. They've had it with him,' Setmayer added. 'No one should be taking Kanye West seriously.'

The third commentator Scott Jennings - a white man - appeared stunned as the other panelists and host laughed while discussing the rapper, who has revealed his battle with mental illness.

The segment prompted other journalists and Donald Trump Jr to hit out at the network for airing what they say are racist remarks and insensitive to mental health sufferers.

Donald Trump Jr took to Twitter Wednesday to condemn the rapper's roasting.

'Kanye dares to think for himself so @CNN commentators mock him, saying Kanye (a wildly successful businessman) ''is what happens when negros don't read.'' At some point you have to ask, why is free thought & expression so dangerous & scary to liberals?' he wrote.

The comments came ahead of Kanye's visit to the White House Thursday where he went on a 10 minute rant in front of the president

Political contributor Tara Setmayer said the rapper is the 'token' black person while another black commentator said 'Kanye West is what happens when negros don't read'

Journalist Glenn Greenwald blasted CNN for airing the segment which he said 'exploits' and 'mocks' the fact that someone has mental health issues

The journalist mentioned the suicide of CNN's own Anthony Bourdain who killed himself earlier this year

Digital Producer Steve Krakauer called the segment 'shameful'

Journalist Benny Johnson said the CNN segment was racist

Journalist Glenn Greenwald pointed out the comments' affect on a person's mental health, calling it 'weaponizing'.

'Exploiting and mocking the fact that someone has previously sought medical treatment for mental health issues in order to disqualify them from participating in public debates and being taken seriously is reprehensible & CNN should be ashamed of itself for airing that,' he wrote on Twitter.

Greenwald continued: 'What makes CNN's weaponizing of mental health treatment against Kanye West extra repulsive: a mere 4 months ago, the suicide of their own colleague, Anthony Bourdain, followed by Kate Spade's, sparked a national discussion about the dangers of this stigma.'

Fox News contributor Deroy Murdock called the comments 'reprehensible' and 'racist' typical of the 'Trump-hating Left'.

'Black Americans who think for ourselves are mocked and degraded with words we last saw under Jim Crow,' Murdock said.

President Donald Trump hugs rapper Kanye West during a meeting in the Oval Office Thursday

Setmayer commented on Kanye West's appearance in the White House Thursday where he went on a 10-minute rant in front of the president

The commentator doubled down on her comments, writing: 'I stand by what I said 100%'

CNN has not responded to DailyMail.com's request for comment.

However, Setmayer doubled down on her comments on Twitter Thursday after she herself revealed the harassment she's received online.

'I stand by what I said 100%,' she wrote in part of a tweet.'He is uninformed & is being used willfully.'

Sellers also backed up his claims from the show in response to the backlash.

'I didn’t call him dumb, Steve,' he said responding to another CNN commentator Steve Cortes. 'I was/am extremely clear. He doesn’t read. He chooses not to. He’s willfully ignorant. This is when I step into my blackness.'

Despite the criticism, Kanye West made an appearance in the Oval Office in front of a slew of cameras where he went on a 10-minute rant in front of the president.

During the meeting, the rapper dropped the F bomb, talked about his Bipolar Disorder diagnosis, pounded on the Resolute Desk and gave the president a hug.

A performance that promoted Setmayer to tweet, 'I rest my case.'