CNN presenter Reza Aslan eats human brain live on camera, sparks backlash

CNN presenter Reza Aslan received huge criticism after he was captured on camera eating human brain while filming with a Hindu cannibal sect.

The incident sparked huge outcry among Hindu-Americans with Indian-American politician Tulsi Gabbard expressing concern.

"I am very disturbed that CNN is using its power and influence to increase people’s misunderstanding and fear of Hinduism," she tweeted.

"Aslan apparently sought to find sensationalist and absurd ways to portray Hinduism. Aslan and CNN didn't just throw a harsh light on a sect of wandering ascetics to create shocking visuals - as if touring a zoo - but repeated false stereotypes about caste, karma and reincarnation that Hindus have been combating tirelessly," she added.

Aslan met the cannibal group in Varanasi after which the group smeared the ashes from burnt dead bodies on his face.

The 44-year-old Iranian scholar was then asked to drink alcohol from a skull, before being presented with human meat to eat.

After the shoot, Aslan shared a post on Facebook. "Want to know what a dead guy's brain tastes like? Charcoal. It was burnt to a crisp!" he wrote.