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Butler Today
By the People, for the People
Kathy Griffin's Comeback Captures Moral Collapse in Real Time
The comic's resurgence highlights how the culture has shifted on threats against political figures.
Published on Feb. 15, 2026
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In 2017, comedian Kathy Griffin sparked outrage by sharing a photo of herself holding a bloodied, decapitated effigy of then-President Donald Trump. The backlash was swift, and Griffin's career effectively ended. However, in the years since, similar threats and fantasies about harming political figures have become normalized in Hollywood, leading Griffin to declare herself "uncanceled" and "proud" of the controversial image. This shift in cultural attitudes reflects a troubling moral collapse, where consequences for such incendiary acts have all but disappeared.
Why it matters
Griffin's resurgence highlights the concerning normalization of threats and violence against political figures, even at the highest levels of power. This trend not only erodes democratic norms but also raises questions about the selective application of consequences, where some entertainers face severe repercussions for their actions while others face little to no backlash.
The details
In 2017, Kathy Griffin shared a photo of herself holding a bloodied, decapitated effigy of then-President Donald Trump, which sparked widespread outrage and effectively ended her career. However, in the years since, similar threats and fantasies about harming political figures have become increasingly common in Hollywood, with entertainers like Snoop Dogg, Charlie Sheen, and Rosie O'Donnell facing little to no consequences for their actions. Griffin now declares herself "uncanceled" and "proud" of the controversial image, reflecting a troubling shift in cultural attitudes.
- In 2017, Kathy Griffin shared the controversial photo of herself holding a bloodied, decapitated effigy of then-President Donald Trump.
- In the years since 2017, similar threats and fantasies about harming political figures have become increasingly normalized in Hollywood.
The players
Kathy Griffin
A comedian and actress who shared a controversial photo of herself holding a bloodied, decapitated effigy of then-President Donald Trump in 2017, effectively ending her career at the time.
Donald Trump
The former President of the United States, who was the subject of the controversial photo shared by Kathy Griffin in 2017.
What they’re saying
“Oh, I think I'm uncanceled, which is a miracle to me, because I didn't think I would ever be uncanceled ...People still define me by it. Now, I really own it, and I absolutely lean into it, because I was right, and I was ahead of my time.”
— Kathy Griffin, Comedian (hollywoodintoto.com)
The takeaway
Kathy Griffin's resurgence and her declaration of being "uncanceled" highlight a troubling moral collapse in the entertainment industry, where threats and fantasies about harming political figures have become normalized. This shift raises concerns about the selective application of consequences and the erosion of democratic norms, as some entertainers face severe repercussions for their actions while others face little to no backlash.
