Kathy Griffin is gritty, controversial and someone who has no qualms in pushing the envelope.
Samantha Armytage is breakfast TV’s darling.
Yet somehow, when these two ladies came face-to-face today, the metaphorical s–t hit the fan. Big time.
Everyone watching the world’s most uncomfortable interview unfold.
The American comedian joined Sunrise for a live cross from Los Angeles, where she was promoting the upcoming Aussie leg of her stand-up tour.
Everything was going rather swimmingly but then Sam decided to put her journalist hat on and confront Kathy on her rather infamous “Annus horribilis.”
In May, the 56-year-old decided to respond to Donald Trump’s Presidency by posing in a very confronting photo shoot, in which she holds his bloodied, decapitated head.
Hours after the shocking images were released, Kathy issued a teary apology.
“I’m just now seeing the reaction to these images. I’m a comic. I cross the line. I move the line then I cross it. I went way too far,” she said at the time.
“The image is too disturbing. I understand how it offends people. It wasn’t funny. I get it. I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my career, I will continue. I ask your forgiveness.”
The photo cost Kathy her job and her reputation.
But now she’s starting again, bringing her Laugh Your Head Off tour to Australia in October.
The damage was done and it was clear despite the sentiment behind the shoot, the concept completely backfired.
It lead to Kathy loosing her job on CNN, her tour was cancelled and the response from Hollywood and Washington alike, showed that she was no longer part of the the fold.
So months later when all the way in Australia, a Channel 7 breakfast host in the form of Samantha Armytage decided to ask about the scandal, it went down like a tonne of bricks.
“Do you not agree that that picture, holding up a severed head – I know it’s a mask covered in tomato sauce – but do you not accept that was a little over the line?” Sam began.
Sam is one of the nation’s most respected journalists.
But Kathy wasn’t impressed.
“No, you’re full of crap! Stop this. You know this! Stop acting like my little picture is more important than talking about the actual atrocities that the president of the United States is actually committing,” Kathy fumed.
Adding, “No, I don’t apologise for that photo anymore and I think the outrage is complete BS because we have real things to deal with.”
“But, I’m in trouble, according to you Sam. Way to take my back, girl.”
Sam quickly retorted: “Well no, well no, I’m a journalist, Kathy! I’m here to ask questions. And it was a big thing, and that’s why,” before Kathy interrupted, “You’re like the white Trump voter in America.”
“No, that’s not fair Kathy!” Sam quipped.
With the comedian remarking, “Calm down! You’re fine. Everyone’s fine!”
Meanwhile, ‘ol mate Kochie had barely said peep and sat through the very tense exchange with a smile on his dial so we know at least one person is fine…
Kochie had a blast!
