CNN has fired Kathy Griffin from its annual New Year's Eve program after she appeared in a video holding a fake severed head of US president Donald Trump.
Griffin regularly hosts CNN's coverage of the annual ball drop at New York City's Times Square alongside television anchor Anderson Cooper.
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Kathy Griffin fired for 'beheading' Trump
'I went way too far', admits Kathy Griffin after images of her holding a bloody head resembling US President Donald Trump were published online. In response, CNN terminated the comedian's contract.
The sacking comes a day after Griffin apologised for the controversial gag.
"I sincerely apologise," she said. "I made a mistake and I was wrong."
The video was quick to generate a wave of backlash from conservatives as well as liberals. Among the critics was Chelsea Clinton, who described the images as "vile and wrong".
Griffin's New Year's Eve co-host Anderson Cooper also slammed the video, calling it "disgusting" and "completely inappropriate".
CNN has terminated our agreement with Kathy Griffin to appear on our New Year's Eve program.
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) May 31, 2017
Donald Trump, meanwhile, has said Griffin should be "ashamed" of herself.
"My children, especially my 11-year-old son, Barron, are having a hard time with this," he said on Twitter. "Sick!"
Kathy Griffin should be ashamed of herself. My children, especially my 11 year old son, Barron, are having a hard time with this. Sick!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2017
Trump's youngest son was reportedly watching television when an image of Griffin and the fake, bloodied head flashed on the screen. According to gossip website TMZ, he initially thought something terrible had happened to his father and had to be calmed down by his mother.
Griffin's gag touched a nerve due to the history of American presidents being assassinated while in office. The joke also came at a time when tensions are running high between Trump supporters, his opponents and the media.
Just last week, a journalist for The Guardian was allegedly body-slammed by a then Republican candidate simply for asking a question.
For the record, I am appalled by the photo shoot Kathy Griffin took part in. It is clearly disgusting and completely inappropriate.
— Anderson Cooper (@andersoncooper) May 31, 2017