Kathy Griffin reveals she now has 'Trumper friends' years after viral photo scandal
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Comedian Kathy Griffin admitted on Friday, November 21, that she now has friends who support President Donald Trump, despite her past behaviour.
The comedian reflected on the intense backlash she received in 2017 after posing with a gruesome mock severed head of the president.
Griffin told People magazine at Out Magazine’s Out100 party, that her outlook on relationships with those who hold different political views has shifted significantly over the years.
'I think I spent a lot of my life, whether it was romantically or career-wise, thinking somebody would change or I could maybe skew someone's perspective,' Griffin explained.
She noted that she has abandoned the idea of trying to force people to change their political beliefs.
Kathy Griffin admits to befriending Trump supporters
The comedian revealed that she has managed to build friendships with the very people she once alienated.
'And now look, believe it or not, I have quite a few Trumper friends,' she stated during the Out100 party.
Griffin noted that she now finds it 'important to be around people that do have different opinions' rather than staying in a bubble.
She acknowledged that the 2017 incident remains a defining moment in her public life.
'There are some Trumpers that find me very triggering because of the Trump head picture,' she said.
Griffin added that she is 'confronted about that photo to this day' by people who remember the graphic image.
Career consequences allegedly persist for Kathy Griffin
The viral photo, which featured a Halloween mask covered in ketchup, was widely condemned by members of both political parties at the time.
The stunt led to an investigation by the Secret Service to determine if the image constituted a genuine threat against the president.
Griffin was also swiftly fired from her long-standing role as co-host of CNN's New Year’s Eve broadcast alongside Anderson Cooper.
She has frequently spoken about the difficulty she faced in booking comedy gigs following the scandal.
Despite the professional setbacks, Griffin was honored as 'Advocate of the Year' by Out Magazine.
She maintained that she intends to remain outspoken on political issues moving forward.
'I think it is important that everybody stay politically engaged even if politics aren't your thing,' Griffin concluded.
