Why Franklin Graham Is Now Blasting Kathy Griffin's Trump Beheading Pic

Talia Wise
05-31-2017

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Comedian Kathy Griffin is feeling more heat for releasing a graphic and disturbing image Tuesday, simulating President Trump's severed head in a video. 

Franklin Graham is now blasting Griffin because her gory picture is a painful reminder of the real tragedies faced by persecuted Christians around the world.

"I work with Christians whose family members have been decapitated. This woman is sick and disgusting. May God bless our President, Donald J. Trump, and his family and protect them from all evil," Graham wrote.

CNN announced Wednesday they have fired Griffin from their annual New Year's Eve coverage, a program the 56-year-old has co-hosted for the last 10 years. 

The video showed Griffin slowly lifting the bloody head, describing the project as an "artsy fartsy statement." 

President Donald Trump has also responded to comedian's graphic photo.

"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."

First Lady Melania Trump also responded to Griffin's bloody photo saying it was especially "disturbing" in light of the "atrocities" taking place in our world today.

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 is not the only organization to fire the celebrity.

The news organization said they would "evaluate" whether she will continue to participate in the network's annual event, but announced via Twitter that she would no longer appear on the program.

 

"We found what she did disgusting and offensive," a CNN spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday. "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."

She had co-hosted the show with Anderson Cooper for the last 10 years. 

Squatty Potty, a small family business that designs bathroom products, has  also 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. 

The Secret Service is also investigating Griffin.

This isn't the first time a celebrity has joked about hurting Trump.

In March, rapper Snoop Dogg released a music video where he uses a toy gun to shoot at a Trump clown.  

Madonna also made a comment about blowing up the White House in March.

"I'm angry. Yes, I am outraged. Yes, I have thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House. But I know that this won't change anything. We cannot fall into despair," she told a crowd of 500,000 people.

And on the campaign trail actor Robert De Niro talked about taking a swing at Trump in a "Get Out the Vote" campaign video.

"He talks how he'd like to punch people in the face? Well, I'd like to punch him in the face," said De Niro.

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About The Author

Talia
Wise

Talia Wise has served as a multi-media producer for CBNNews.com, CBN Newswatch, The Prayer Link, and CBN News social media outlets. Prior to joining CBN News she worked for Fox Sports Florida producing and reporting. Talia earned a master’s degree in journalism from Regent University and a bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia.
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