'I'm Always Going To Stick Up For A Woman Demeaned By Trump': Kathy Griffin Addresses Controversial Photoshoot

Kathy Griffin and her attorney Lisa Bloom held a press conference Friday to address the backlash to Griffin's controversial photo posing with the bloody likeness of a beheaded President Trump. Griffin says she has received numerous death threats and has been contacted by the Secret Service in the wake of the photo.

Bloom explained Griffin's rationale for the photoshoot as a response to President Trump's former comments about Megyn Kelly, when, during the campaign, he said "she had blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever." Bloom said it's a "parody of Trump's own sexist remarks taken to an extreme, absurdist visual." She reinforced that Griffin did not intend for it to convey a threat of violence to the president, and cited the apology she released on Instagram and Twitter after hearing the angry response to her photoshoot.

Bloom also took time to cite other artists who have made violent imagery, like Marilyn Manson's music video where he shows a decapitated likeness of President Trump. She argues the extra layer of vitriol against Griffin stems from her position as a female comic rather than a male artist.

Griffin herself goes on to maintain the "apology stands" and that she feels "horrible," while also reinforcing her intention to "tease the president," adding that "this is America and you shouldn't have to die for it." She cites her brand of comedy as "in-your-face" and argues the response to her photoshoot is a combination of discrimination against free speech and misogyny. Griffin explains how President Trump's comments against Megyn Kelly were motivation because she's "always going to stick up for a woman who's being demeaned by Trump." She added that she's experienced "white guys trying to hold her down" before, and considers the response from President Trump to be another example of sexism against female artists.

Griffin also said "I'm the shiny object so that nobody's talking about his FBI investigation," arguing the anger from President Trump is a distraction from the ongoing Russia probe.

The anger to the since-deleted photos has come from across the political spectrum, and President Trump tweeted about its effect on his son, Barron Trump. And CNN responded to Griffin's photos by firing her from the network's New Year's broadcast.