Jeff Charles Culture & Social Issues Correspondent
On Tuesday, so-called comedian and Trump critic Kathy Griffin posed for a picture holding a fake head that resembled President Donald Trump. The picture was taken by Tyler Shields, who is known for his provocative photographs.
While the image offended both liberals and conservatives, it had a far deeper impact on the Trump family. Barron Trump became upset when he saw the gruesome image on television. Melania Trump slammed Griffin, questioning her mental health. The Washington Examiner reports:
TMZ reported Wednesday that Barron was at the family’s New York City penthouse with first lady Melania Trump when the photo appeared on TV.
Barron saw the image and panicked.
“Mommy, mommy!” he reportedly screamed.
The first lady said in a statement that the photo “makes you wonder about the mental health of the person who did it.”
Donald Trump Jr. has also expressed his disdain for the tasteless photo. The president also chimed in on Twitter:
Kathy Griffin should be ashamed of herself. My children, especially my 11 year old son, Barron, are having a hard time with this. Sick!
Griffin has received criticism from individuals on both the left and the right. Keith Olbermann and Chelsea Clinton denounced the comedian for her photo. Regrettably, there were also many on the left who took to Twitter to lash out at Barron Trump for becoming frightened at seeing the image on television. The Media Research Center has collected some of the more egregious tweets featuring Rosie O’Donnell, Ken Jennings, and several others.
Griffin has since issued an apology. She first apologized on Twitter; then she released a video in which she said:
“I’m a comic, I cross the line. I move the line, then I cross it. I went way too far. The image is too disturbing. I understand how it offends people. It wasn’t funny. I get it.”
The apology was too little and too late. CNN fired Griffin, and the comedian will no longer provide the organization’s New Year’s Eve coverage. She also lost an endorsement deal with Squatty Potty, a manufacturer of toilet footstools.
This incident is just one example of the type of attacks the left is willing to use to smear their political opponents – it is not the first time they have attacked Barron Trump or the children of other Republican politicians. Liberals have often characterized the GOP as the hateful party. They malign conservatives as vicious bullies who harbor animosity towards those with whom they disagree. However, no prominent conservative has ever made a statement as deplorable as Kathy Griffin’s.
Imagine that a conservative celebrity posed for a picture holding a bloody Obama head. The establishment media would immediately hit the roof. Anderson Cooper and Rachel Maddow would compete to see who can use the term “racist” the highest number of times in one segment. The press would launch all types of invectives claiming that this person had acted inappropriately – and they would be right.
Kathy Griffin’s photo was reprehensible. There is no legitimate reason to pose for an image depicting the brutal murder of an American president. If one objects to the policies of an elected official, there are far better ways to voice those sentiments. Griffin earned her firing. The first amendment guarantees that the government will not punish a person for expressing their views, but it does not shield them from public backlash.
The fact that some prominent liberals have condemned Griffin’s photo is a positive sign, but it does not change the fact that the left is still intent on painting the majority of conservatives as people who are full of hate. The reality is that these types of attitudes are present on both sides. Instead of pretending that all of the hate is coming from the right, liberals should take an honest look at their own party.
Remember to check out the web’s best conservative news aggregator Whatfinger.com and newcomer ConservativeNewsDirect.com
