Kathy Griffin apologized after posing with a fake decapitated head resembling Donald Trump, sparking outrage. The photo, taken by Tyler Shields and first published by TMZ, caused significant backlash.
In a video, Griffin expressed regret: “I sincerely apologize. I’m just now seeing the reaction of these images. I’m a comic, I cross the line. I move the line, then I cross 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. (I’m) taking down the image. (I’m) 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, who has often criticized Trump, shared the photo on Twitter with the caption, “There was blood coming out of his eyes, blood coming out of his… whatever,” echoing Trump’s comments about Megyn Kelly.
The image quickly received backlash. Donald Trump Jr. tweeted, “Disgusting but not surprising. This is the left today.” Chelsea Clinton and actress Debra Messing also condemned the photo, with Messing saying, “It wasn’t right when people hung lynched Obama effigies, just as what Kathy Griffin did isn’t right now.”