There is certainly no shortage of people who have shared opinions about photos that show Kathy Griffin holding what appears to be President Trump’s decapitated head. But not everyone agrees that she needed to apologize.
“Jesus f—ing Christ Kathy Griffin, you’re going to apologize?” comedian and ‘Inside Amy Schumer’ writer Mike Lawrence posted to Facebook on Wednesday. “You know what you did and should own it. It wasn’t a riff onstage or a joke you had done once or twice. It was a photo shoot … You wanted to shock people and you did. And now you’re admitting you farted but didn’t expect it would stink as much as you thought.”
Lawrence continued, “Of course CNN would fire you, and a—holes who don’t care about families and love to defund schools and social programs are crying ‘think of the children.’ You wanted a reaction and got it. So live in it. Don’t apologize. This is you now. Think of the next shocking thing. Be the Joan Rivers meets Marina Abromavic performance artist shock comic you always wanted to be.”
Meanwhile, Rosie O’Donnell tweeted about Griffin’s stunt by saying that she “didn’t find it funny at all.” But O’Donnell, a longtime critic of Trump’s, has also retweeted a number of messages from users who say that similar actions — including people burning or lynching effigies of Barack Obama — have not been met with the same level of outrage.
Additionally, Al Franken said he still plans to appear with Griffin in July at an event to promote his book. He explained that the two spoke and that she begged him for forgiveness.
After the controversial images were released Tuesday, Griffin issued a mea culpa, saying she “went too far.” The list of those who have condemned the photos is a lengthy one and includes Donald and wife Melania.
Meanwhile, CNN announced that she will no longer appear as co-host of its annual “New Year’
However, some individuals have taken to social media amid the controversy to at least defend Griffin’s right to comment and provoke, even if they don’t necessarily with her exact method.
Check out a smattering of tweets below from people who appear to support Griffin’s right to comment on Trump. (Note: Some of the tweets contain profanities.)
"Free speech" martyrs crying over a stunt from a comedian. It's like they don't care about "free speech" unless it's them spouting bigotry
— New York City Antifa (@NYCAntifa) May 31, 2017
CNN just fired Kathy Griffin from the New Year's Eve show with Anderson Cooper.
I don't care to defend her but that's bullshit. For real.— MAN IDK… 🤦🏿♂️☠️1-2 🇳🇬♠️ (@JohnnyACE562) May 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/TheyLiveGlasses/status/869969649080819713
Kathy Griffin has no spine. If you felt strongly enough to make the video! Then stand proud in front of the world and defend it!
— Phil 𝕏11 (@professorXOrg) May 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/cordjefferson/status/869738874922127360
https://twitter.com/ArmoredChocobo/status/869759529323548673
Btw, the people wanting Kathy Griffin shut down for a joke? The same people who defend anti-PC jokes. Must have slipped their fucking minds.
— PerfectHarbinger (@PerfectHarb) May 31, 2017
I'll totally defend Kathy Griffin. Trump & ReThugs reap what they sow. https://t.co/aNFlQuqlV2
— Laura Bogart (@LDBogart) May 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/ddd_deborah/status/869994153312100352