Comedian Kathy Griffin has been fired by CNN after sharing a grisly image of herself holding what appeared to be the dismembered head of President Donald Trump.
Kathy Griffin's Gory Photo of Decapitated Trump Focus of Secret Service Investigation (VIDEO) https://t.co/zlb8dD8P1d
— TMZ (@TMZ) May 31, 2017
The network said in a statement, “CNN has terminated our agreement with Kathy Griffin to appear on our New Year’s Eve program.” Griffin had co-hosted the live special every year with Anderson Cooper since 2007.
Cooper was quick to denounce his long-time pal, calling the image “disgusting” and “completely inappropriate.” CNN’s Jake Tapper also joined in, tweeting, “Indecent behavior should be condemned.”
For the record, I am appalled by the photo shoot Kathy Griffin took part in. It is clearly disgusting and completely inappropriate.
— Anderson Cooper (@andersoncooper) May 31, 2017
Indecent behavior should be condemned — including not just faux presidential beheadings but, say, mocking the disabled or denigrating POWs
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) May 31, 2017
The image was captured by celebrity shock photographer Tyler Shields, who we spoke with last November. He has yet to issue a statement, but he’s known for his far-out, sometimes downright bloody shots featuring troubled actresses like Lindsey Lohan and Mischa Barton.
Kathy Griffin BEHEADS Donald Trump in SHOCKING Photo Shoot! #TMZ pic.twitter.com/Se0nGnRmQ1
— TMZ (@TMZ) May 31, 2017
President Trump also lashed out at Griffin on Twitter on Tuesday, saying that “Kathy Griffin should be ashamed of herself” and that his 11-year-old son Barron was having “a hard time with this.”
Kathy Griffin should be ashamed of herself. My children, especially my 11 year old son, Barron, are having a hard time with this. Sick!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2017
Melania Trump also issued a rare statement, questioning Griffin’s mental health.
“As a mother, a wife, and a human being, that photo is very disturbing,” The First Lady said in a statement. “When you consider some of the atrocities happening in the world today, a photo opportunity like this is simply wrong and makes you wonder about the mental health of the person who did it.”
For her part, Griffin apologized Tuesday night after realizing the scale of the massive internet backlash.
https://twitter.com/kathygriffin/status/869703678550171648
“I sincerely apologize. I am just now seeing the reaction of these images. I’m a comic, I cross the line, I move the line, then I cross it. But I went way too far. The image is too disturbing. I understand how it offends people. It wasn’t funny. I get it. I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my career. I will continue. I ask for your forgiveness. I’m taking down the image. I’m gonna ask the photographer to take down the image, and I beg for your forgiveness. I went too far. I made a mistake, and I was wrong.”
Guess we’ll never see Kathy Griffin take her top off in Times Square ever again…
