Kathy Griffin explains 'true motivation' for photo: 'to mock Trump'

Bill Ervolino | NorthJersey

Show Caption Hide Caption Kathy Griffin: 'I went way too far' with Trump photo Kathy Griffin apologized for the photo she posted of herself holding up what looked like the decapitated head President Donald Trump. Trump responded, saying the comedian should be ashamed of herself.

The comedian Kathy Griffin was alternately tearful, angry and defiant on Friday, addressing the backlash to photos that were made public earlier this week in which she posed with a fake bloodied head that resembled President Trump.

Appearing in Los Angeles with her lawyer, Lisa Bloom, Griffin said that she stands by the video apology she released on Thursday, shortly before her fall appearances in Englewood and New Brunswick were canceled. But she also expressed anger at how the White House and the Trump family were reacting to the matter, creating a “mob mentality pile-on” that she said has led to death threats.

"What's happening to me has never happened, ever, in the history of this great country — which is that a sitting president of the United States and his grown children and the first lady are personally, I feel, personally trying to ruin my life forever."

After the photos were released, Griffin’s Nov. 4 appearance at bergenPAC in Englewood was removed from the venue’s events schedule on Thursday night. Her Nov. 3 show at State Theatre NJ in New Brunswick was also pulled.

Late on Thursday, both venues posted announcements on their Facebook pages. The bergenPAC post read in part:“After very careful consideration, bergenPAC has decided to no longer move forward with the scheduled performance of Kathy Griffin on November 4, 2017. Full refunds are available through Ticketmaster or your point of purchase.”

The State Theatre's announcement was similar but noted that the show was being canceled out of concern “ for the safety of our patrons.” (The Record contacted the theater for a clarification and was told there would be no further comment on the matter.)

At her press conference, the comic actress became most emotional when she was asked how she felt about the comments made by Anderson Cooper of CNN, with whom Griffin has hosted a New Year's Eve program. (CNN fired Griffin from that broadcast on Thursday.) Griffin said that Cooper’s response to the photo shoot — he called it "disgusting" — and the fact they she had still not spoken to him, “really hurt.”

I am sorry. I went too far. I was wrong. pic.twitter.com/LBKvqf9xFB — Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) May 30, 2017

In answer to other questions from the press, Griffin said the image, taken by photographer Tyler Shields was intended as a rebuke to comments made by Trump following a debate moderated by Megyn Kelly. Trump said that Kelly had “blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out her, wherever.”

Although some comics, including Jim Carrey, have come to Griffin's defense, the image was panned by almost everyone else who saw it, with sharp criticism coming from the political left, right and center. It triggered a Secret Service investigation, cost her her annual New Year’s Eve gig on CNN and drew waves of hate messages and threats on her social media pages.

Trump said in a Twitter message that Griffin “should be ashamed of herself.” “My children, especially my 11-year-old son, Barron, are having a hard time with this. Sick!”

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

First lady Melania Trump issued a statement of her own: “As a mother, a wife, and a human being, that photo is very disturbing. 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.”

Local reaction was mostly negative. “She apologized, but I don’t think that is enough,” said Giancarlo Ghione, executive director of the Bergen County Republican Organization and chairman of the New Jersey Young Republican Federation. Ghione said a boycott of Griffin's appearances would be “fair.”

“I don’t want to see protesters following her everywhere,” Ghione added, “but I don’t feel her apology was sincere. Just because she is a comedian doesn’t mean she can do something like this. You can mock the president if you want, but there is a line you shouldn’t cross. That’s just common sense.”

Sally Gellert of Woodcliff Lake, who helps maintain the Facebook page for the progressive group Occupy Bergen County, stopped short of endorsing a boycott of the performer’s live shows.

“I support her freedom as an artist to make a statement in whatever format she chooses,” Gellert said. “But ... was it tasteless? Yes. Would I have done it? No.”

Gellert added that she “cringed” when she read about the reactions of the President’s family to the photos. “But he is a public figure,” she said, “and his family must deal with the consequences of that.”

On Thursday morning State Sen. Loretta Weinberg, a Teaneck Democrat, told The Record she had still not seen the photos, “but it sounds like they are in awful taste considering the world we live in right now.”

As for a proposed boycott, Weinberg said, “I believe in the people’s right to peaceably demonstrate and/or to boycott to bring pressure toward whatever their point of view is.”

"Apologies often ring hollow because they are only offered after someone points out bad behavior," she added. "In other words, grownups should understand the results of their behavior before it’s necessary to apologize. Having said that, a heartfelt apology can go a long way toward healing.”

This article includes material from The Asbury Park Press, USAToday and The Associated Press.

Email: ervolino@northjersey.com