President Donald Trump is responding to comedian Kathy Griffin, who released a graphic and disturbing image Tuesday of the president’s severed head in a video.
President Donald Trump is responding to comedian Kathy Griffin, who released a graphic and disturbing image Tuesday of the president’s severed head in a video.
The video showed Griffin slowly lifting the bloody head, describing the project as an « artsy fartsy statement. »
« Kathy Griffin should be ashamed of herself, » Trump tweeted. « My children, especially my 11-year-old son, Barron, are having a hard time with this. Sick! »
Griffin later apologized in a video message and admits she took it too far.
« I sincerely apologize. I am just now seeing the reaction to these images, » she said. « I am a comic; I crossed the line. I move the line and then I cross it. I went way too far. The image is too disturbing. I understand how it offends people. It was not funny. I get it. »
Griffin said she is asking celebrity photographer Tyler Shields to take down the photo.
« I beg for your forgiveness. I went too far, » she said. « I made a mistake and I was wrong. »
Griffin received a significant amount of backlash from both conservative and liberals.
Donald Trump Jr., the president’s son, called the photo « disgusting but not surprising. »
CNN television personality, Anderson Cooper, took to Twitter to express his disapproval of the gory photo.
Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of Hillary Clinton, called the image « vile and wrong. »
« It’s never funny to joke about killing a president, » she said.
Clinton is not the only one who has accused Griffin of inciting violence.
According to CNN, Griffin responded to the accusations. « OBVIOUSLY, I do not condone ANY violence by my fans or others to anyone, ever! » Griffin initially wrote on Twitter. « I’m merely mocking the Mocker in Chief. »
The tweet has been removed from the site.
CNN and a small business are placing some distance between themselves and the celebrity.
Squatty Potty, a small family business that designs bathroom products, has announced they will pull their newly formed ad campaign with Griffin.
« We were shocked and disappointed to learn about the image Ms. Griffin shared today. It was deeply inappropriate and runs contrary to the core values our company stands for, » CEO Bobby Edwards wrote in a statement sent to Fox News.
« In response, Squatty Potty has suspended its ad campaign featuring Ms. Griffin. We have acted swiftly and decisively to demonstrate our commitment to a culture of decency, civility, and tolerance, » Edwards added.
Griffin is scheduled to host CNN’s New Year’s Eve coverage. The news organization told Entertainment Weekly they are « evaluating » whether she will continue to participate in the network’s annual event. She has co-hosted the show with Anderson Cooper for the last 10 years.
« We found what she did disgusting and offensive, » a CNN spokesperson said in a statement. « We are pleased to see she has apologized and asked that the photos be taken down. We are evaluating New Year’s Eve and have made no decisions at this point. »
The Secret Service is also investigating Griffin.
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