Kathy Griffin is under fire after images she took with photographer Tyler Shields surfaced on the internet Tuesday via TMZ.
The 56-year-old comedian is photographed holding the very bloody, severed head of Donald Trump. In a behind-the-scenes video from the photo shoot, Griffin claimed she and Tyler are "not afraid to do images that make noise" which is exactly what roared though the internet moments after the pictures were shared.
Griffin has since explained the images after facing immense internet backlash. Shields also chimed in, calling out the project was nothing more than an "artistic statement."
1/ I caption this "there was blood coming out of his eyes, blood coming out of his...wherever" Also @tylershields great Photog/film maker. pic.twitter.com/eKqr44NOl6
@kathygriffin
2/ OBVIOUSLY, I do not condone ANY violence by my fans or others to anyone, ever! I'm merely mocking the Mocker in Chief.
@kathygriffin
Can you go to jail for making an artistic statement??? Asking for a friend... @kathygriffin
@tylershields
Though some understand the joke, others are not holding back calling Griffin's image a sad attempt for attention, and just tasteless in general. Here's some of the reaction thus far.
Disgusting but not surprising. This is the left today. They consider this acceptable. Imagine a conservative did this to Obama as POTUS? https://t.co/QdghcbIjS7
@DonaldJTrumpJr
It wasn't right when peoplel hung lynched Obama effigies, just as what Kathy Griffin did isn't right now.
@DebraMessing
Thanks, Kathy Griffin, but I really wasn't looking for common ground with Trumpists in support of an ignorant, lying, traitorous, goon thug.
@jfreewright
Kathy Griffin forgot Trumpists were saving up outrage they should've directed toward white racist murderers for her.
@jfreewright
.@kathygriffin I'm sorry but that is totally inappropriate and so very offensive. And I have to believe you're smart enough to know better.
@Alyssa_Milano
This is vile and wrong. It is never funny to joke about killing a president. https://t.co/zIiuKoMyFw
@ChelseaClinton
This is not funny. It's disgusting. And I don't care whether you love or hate Trump. If you're human, you should find this disgusting. https://t.co/olIxIvJLNs
@JedediahBila
Pay no attention to the Kathy Griffin BS. It's a stupid attempt at regaining notoriety. The photos are awful, meant for shock, tasteless
@hasanthehun
I think Trump is a DISASTER as both a President and a human being.
@Mikel_Jollett
I also think that Kathy Griffin photo is horrible and wrong.
I'm not sure there's any human who dislikes Donald Trump as much as I do.
@andylassner
However, the Kathy Griffin photo is fucking awful on every level.
This Kathy Griffin thing is so upsetting and disgusting. Jesus--what is wrong with people today? Have we lost all our humanity?
@soledadobrien
Please RT if you are a liberal and condemn Kathy Griffin's gruesome photo. #TheResistance doesn't condone violence, even as humor.
@MelissaJPeltier
my feed today has mostly been liberals disgusted by Kathy Griffin and conservatives asking why liberals aren't denouncing Kathy Griffin
@mattdpearce
When Kathy Griffin was on Hollywood Squares in the 1990s, she would hold up bloody severed heads all the time. It was 90% of her act.
@KenJennings
I'm old enough to remember when leftists got a rodeo clown fired for wearing an Obama mask https://t.co/AZwANHL4Ti
@benshapiro
