Rapper Wyclef Jean on Friday warned celebrities speaking out on politics to be "very careful" to avoid the controversy sparked by the likes of Kathy Griffin, saying they should "be as smart as" late night host Jimmy Kimmel James (Jimmy) Christian KimmelFauci, Black Lives Matter founders included on Time's 100 Most Influential People list Kimmel-hosted Emmy Awards attract all-time low 6.1M viewers: 'Well, we set a record' Bubba Wallace to be driver of Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin NASCAR team MORE.

“If you’re the celebrity that’s speaking based on emotion, you don’t know what policy you’re talking about, they’re going to take that sound bite and make a whole movie out of it,” Jean said on Politico's "Off Message" podcast." “So, I encourage every celebrity … let’s be as smart as Kimmel.”

Griffin came under fire this week after posing for a photoshoot with a fake severed head resembling President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE, a move that drew a damning rebuke from the White House and prompted CNN to terminate its agreement with the comedian to appear on the network's New Year's Eve program.

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By contrast, Jean referenced the host of ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," who last month delivered an emotional plea to Trump and lawmakers to halt their efforts to repeal ObamaCare. During the monologue, Kimmel revealed that his son had been born with a heart defect and argued that "no parent should ever have to decide if they can afford to save their child’s life."

But Jean also encouraged celebrities to express their political views, saying that it's more important now than ever to speak out on the issues.

“The idea of you having a voice and constantly being able to express yourself, in saying, ‘I don’t agree with this,’ or ‘I agree with this,’ it’s important,” he said. “I feel that we’re at a time now where your voice should be louder than it’s ever been.”