Although Kathy Griffin initially apologized for the image, she later withdrew the apology and criticized Donald Trump as a “bully.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA — Kathy Griffin is revisiting one of the most controversial moments of her career with a surprising claim involving Donald Trump’s youngest son, Barron Trump.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the comedian claimed that Barron still texts her about once a month, believing she poses a threat to his father following the fallout from her infamous 2017 photo shoot featuring a bloodied replica of Donald Trump’s head.
When asked if anyone still believes she wanted to harm the former president, Griffin replied, “Barron does.” She added, “He’ll send me a note once a month just saying, ‘Don’t kill my daddy.’ But, you know, Barron—he’s the sensitive one. What can I do?”
The 2017 Photo Controversy
In 2017, Griffin faced widespread condemnation after posing with a graphic, decapitated-style mask of Donald Trump. The image went viral, prompting public outrage. Trump addressed the incident directly at the time, stating that Griffin should be ashamed and noting that his children—particularly Barron—were deeply distressed by the imagery.
The professional fallout for Griffin was immediate. She lost key sponsorship deals and was dropped from her long-standing role as co-host of CNN’s New Year’s Eve coverage. While she initially issued a public apology, she later retracted it, calling Trump a “bully.”
Griffin Claims She Was Targeted
Griffin’s recent statements bring Barron back into the public eye years after the incident, though her claims regarding the monthly text messages have not been independently verified.
The comedian has consistently maintained that the intense backlash she experienced was fueled by sexism. According to an NBC News report from the era, Griffin argued that a male comedian would not have faced the same level of career disruption.
“I’m not afraid of Donald Trump,” Griffin stated at the time.