Kathy Griffin ducks Elon Musk’s Twitter ban by using late mom’s account: ‘#FreeKathy’
The comedian took to Twitter Wednesday night to post an image of her late mom, Joan Rivers, sitting on a park bench in a park near her home in Los Angeles with a sign in her hand that reads “Free Kanye West.” Griffin followed with what she called her “first post of a new era in my career.”
Kathy Griffin is back, after a week-long hiatus from social media following the fallout over a photo showing her dressed as a topless man holding a fake penis. The original photo, which Griffin had posted with the caption “Hollywood’s Next Top Model,” made headlines last week after reports emerged of the photos being shared widely on 4chan, an image board notorious for its trolling activities. That prompted the comedian to cancel two upcoming engagements, including one planned for next week.
Griffin appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair Friday with a series of provocative images of herself, including a topless portrait that drew ire for its similarity to a 2015 photo of her in a burka. That photo and the subsequent fallout over the use of her photo landed Griffin in legal trouble with the Secret Service.
“We are taking a very measured approach to the appropriate use of our images in the future,” a Secret Service spokesperson told USA TODAY. “We are reviewing the issue and will take appropriate actions if needed.”
The Secret Service has made clear that it is not investigating Griffin’s alleged copyright infringement, a spokesperson said.
Griffin and her publicist have been outspoken in their support of her ex-boyfriend, radio host and actor Shia LaBeouf, who was detained at LAX Saturday after being arrested for allegedly bringing a gun on a plane. Griffin posted a video showing LaBeouf getting arrested on her Twitter account shortly before his arrest. She also used that video to support him on Instagram.
As the Secret Service, the FBI and other law enforcement officials investigate Griffin’s