Update: CNN fires Kathy Griffin over offensive Trump photo
http://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/cnn-fires-kathy-griffin-over-offensive-trump-photo/ar-BBBKgCX?ocid=ansmsnnews11
Surprised she didn’t get a raise!
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'I went too far': Kathy Griffin apologizes for posting a video of Trump's 'severed head' on social media after Secret Service suggests she will be investigated for threatening the president
Griffin was seen holding up the severed head for photographer Tyler Shields
She joked that she would have to leave the country after the shoot
'This is vile and wrong. It is never funny to joke about killing a president,' said Chelsea Clinton
Griffin has since apologized saying 'I am sorry. I went too far. I was wrong'
But the apology was not enough to stop the furious online backlash against her
The act was interpreted by many as a threat towards the president
The Secret Service - while not citing the video or image - reminded people it monitors social media and took any threats against the president very seriously
Facing increasing pressure, CNN said they are 'evaluating' Griffin's long-time role hosting its New Year's Eve coverage but has 'made no decisions at this point'
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Kathy Griffin has apologized for posting a video of President Trump's severed head after a furious backlash, sparking the Secret Service into an investigation.
The controversial comedian tweeted 'I am sorry. I went too far. I was wrong' after Griffin was seen slowly raising Trump's head during a photo shoot with infamous photographer Tyler Shields.
She also posted a video promising to remove the offending image after she was lambasted by all sides of the political spectrum, including Chelsea Clinton.
But the apology was not enough to stop the army of critics, both Trump supporters, and Democrats from attacking Griffin on social media for the outrageous stunt.
Even her long-time New Years Eve co-host Anderson Cooper said he was 'appalled' by the photo shoot, which he described as 'clearly disgusting and completely inappropriate.'
Meanwhile, the Secret Service made an oblique reference to the controversy on Twitter, reminding everyone that any threats against the president are taken seriously.
Heads up: Comedian Kathy Griffin sparked fury from Trump supporters on Tuesday after footage emerged of her holding up a fake severed Donald Trump head
It could have been worse.
Thank God she spared us from this one!
My reading glasses cracked.
The controversial comedian tweeted 'I am sorry. I went too far. I was wrong' after the stunt
'On it! @SecretService has a robust protective intelligence division that monitors open source reporting & social media to evaluate threats. Threats made against @SecretService protectees receive the highest priority of all of our investigations. #ProtectionNeverRests.'
As the firestorm of criticism surrounding Griffin increased a CNN spokesman said that they are 'evaluating' Griffin's long-time role hosting its New Year's Eve coverage but have 'made no decisions at this point'
'We found what she did disgusting and offensive. 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 spokesman said.
Even former first daughter Chelsea Clinton was quick to express her outrage at Griffin tweeting: 'This is vile and wrong. It is never funny to joke about killing a president.
GRIFFIN'S VIDEO APOLOGY IN FULL
Hey everybody, it's me, Kathy Griffin.
I sincerely apologize. I am just now seeing the reaction to these images.
I'm a comic. I crossed the line.
I moved the line. Then I crossed it. 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 your forgiveness.
Taking down the image. I am going to 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.
Griffin, an outspoken opponent of Trump who is best known for presenting the New Year's Eve countdown with Anderson Cooper on CNN, is seen holding the head, which is slathered in fake blood.
During footage of the shoot, posted on her own official website Griffin said: 'Tyler and I are not afraid to make images that make noise.'
That's certainly what happened when the footage and pictures hit the web.
The shocking images quickly set social media alight, with many calling for her to be locked up for supposedly 'threatening' the president.
'This is discusting [sic] Kathy Griffin has never been funny,' said self-styled conservative paralegal NativeCA. 'This should be reported to the FBI & Twitter.'
President Trump's eldest son Donald Jr. also got in on the act, attacking Griffin for posing with a severed fake head resembling his father, saying it was 'disgusting but not surprising.
'This is the left today. They consider this acceptable,' he tweeted. 'Imagine a conservative did this to Obama as POTUS?'
'It's sad that the left today would rather see America suffer and fail than to see it succeed with @realDonaldTrump at the helm. #maga'
The Secret Service - while not citing the video or image - chose this tome to remind its followers on Twitter that the agency monitors social media and took any threats against the president very seriously
Griffin's long-time co-host Anderson Cooper also criticized her on Twitter
Even former first daughter Chelsea Clinton was quick to express her outrage at Griffin tweeting: 'This is vile and wrong. It is never funny to joke about killing a president
Mitt Romney denounced the comedian for dragging politics 'into an even more repugnant & vile territory'
Sarah Palin, who has long been a target of mockery for Griffin was quick to jump on the bandwagon, branding the post 'sick'
Kellyanne Conway joined in, pointing out that the outspoken comic had plenty of time for reflection before she posted the picture
In another tweet he demanded to know if CNN would keep Griffin on the air after the stunt.
He also tweeted his thanks to Cooper for his condemnation before demanding to know if the TV host would work with Griffin in the future.
'Asking for a lot of people. #LMK,' he added.
Kellyanne Conway joined in, pointing out that the outspoken comic had plenty of time for reflection before she posted the picture.
'Kathy Griffin did not misspeak or misstep. She plotted & posed for the photoshoot. Ample time for reflection/correction,' she tweeted.
While Mitt Romney denounced the comedian for dragging politics 'into an even more repugnant & vile territory.'
Sarah Palin, who has long been a target of mockery for Griffin was quick to jump on the bandwagon, branding the post 'sick.'
'No one should be shocked at the sick audacity of sick characters. Kathy is a hurting individual. She needs help,' she tweeted.
Meanwhile on Twitter @nancygolliday said 'Parading beheading of POTUS makes @kathygriffing a terrorist and an enemy of the state. She needs to be treated as such.'
And Dr. J wrote: 'You're disgusting. Honor our military but dishonor our President and Commander in Chief? You'd behead our President? Hypocrite.'
Even some self-described liberals got in on the act.
CNN anchor Jake Tapper said: 'It's pretty disgusting. I can't imagine how anybody would think that's appropriate.'
'Big time Liberal here - and a Kathy Griffin fan - and I agree,' said Tanya Crosse. 'This is not ok and there is no excuse. She should immediately apologize.'
Meanwhile, Simar wrote: 'We can't knock the alt right for promoting hate speech & then support Kathy Griffin for promoting violence against the President.'
In footage of the shoot, Griffin is seen joking that she and Shields will have to flee the country once it gets out.
'We have to move to Mexico today,' she said, 'because we're gonna go to prison. Federal prison.
'Call your dad, apologize, then let's you [and me] go to Mexico because we're not surviving this.'
She's seen in the footage lifting the grisly 'head' out of a metal bowl, then rotating it towards the camera until it hits a spot that Shields likes.
Finally, at Shields' demand, she drops it to the ground.
Griffin responded to the outrage with a two-part tweet, the first part of which saw her mocking the imaginary dead president
Mocker: Griffin claimed she was 'merely mocking the Mocker in Chief' in the second part of her tweet, and that she wasn't condoning violence
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