CNN has fired comedian Kathy Griffin, who drew global criticism on Wednesday for posing photographs holding severed head of US President, Donald Trump.
Griffin, 56, a two-time Emmy-winning performer known for her deliberately provocative brand of humor, has appeared since 2007 as co-host of CNN’s New Year’s Eve broadcast from Times Square in New York with anchor Anderson Cooper.
The network announced the termination on Wednesday after earlier criticising the photos as “disgusting and offensive.”
Griffin has posted a videotaped apology, saying that as a comic she routinely seeks to “cross the line” but realized in this case, “I went too far.”
But her act generated a public outcry from Republicans and Democrats, including condemnation from Trump.
“Kathy Griffin should be ashamed of herself,” Trump wrote. “My children, especially my 11-year-old son, Barron, are having a hard time with this. Sick!”
The U.S. Secret Service, responsible for presidential security, has opened an inquiry into the posting of Griffin posing with the severed-head replica, a spokesman in Los Angeles said.
When asked whether the agency was looking into the incident as a potential threat on the president’s life.
“We’re aware of it and we’re investigating it,” the spokesman, George Fernandez told Reuters.
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