Meghan McCain's time on The View comes to an end this Friday. As was to be expected, she is not leaving quietly.
The conservative voice of the long-running daytime talk show took a jab at comedian Kathy Griffin, who recently announced she is undergoing treatment for lung cancer, on a recent episode of The View.
McCain, whose father, Senator John McCain, died of brain cancer in 2018, initially wished Griffin a speedy recovery, acknowledging her own family's struggles with cancer and opioid addictions.
But she quickly backtracked that sympathy, as evidenced by a clip posted on the Twitter page for the YouTube series The Chat.
Meghan McCain demands an apology from @kathygriffin for the homophobic jokes she made about Clay Aiken #TheView \n\n"I don't like her. I'm never going to like her," she added.pic.twitter.com/HMCuoRkHlF— The Chat (@The Chat) 1627917379
McCain justified her hatred of Griffin by referencing jokes Griffin made in the past about McCain's close friend, Clay Aiken.
"She made very, very, very cruel and homophobic jokes about him before he was out of the closet."
"I think he's lucky he didn't end up becoming an opioid addict given the degree of bullying that happened to him when he was still struggling to come out of the closet."
"I don't like her. I'm never going to like her for all the jokes she said about Clay".
McCain was also quick to mention the controversial photo Griffin posted of herself holding a fake severed head resembling Donald Trump, saying it reminded her of "what Isis does to our soldiers."
Not long after the episode aired, Aiken took to Twitter.
But in an interesting twist, his post was not in support of McCain, but rather sending good vibes to Griffin.
Love and prayers for a speedy recovery to my dear friend @kathygriffin! \nSelfless and gracious, she even hosted a fundraiser for my congressional campaign years ago. \nGet well soon Kathy. I miss your jokes! pic.twitter.com/dR7NY4FzJD— Clay Aiken (@Clay Aiken) 1627941105
In addition to wishing the comedian a speedy recovery, Aiken described Griffin as "selfless and gracious," and acknowledged a fundraiser she held during Aiken's bid for a congressional seat in North Carolina.
What led many to view this message as an attack on McCain as well as support for Griffin was how Aiken ended the Tweet with the message: "I miss your jokes."
Before Aiken came out in 2008, Griffin had referred to him as "Gaykin" when performing stand up.
Griffin has been an outspoken supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, even being awarded the Rainbow Key Award from the city of West Hollywood in 2018, after raising over $5 million for HIV/AIDs services and LGBTQ+ activism.
Some of Aiken's Twitter followers expressed confusion over his support of Griffin, considering McCain's suggested animosity between them.
Wait, What I am confused now\u2026.. Meghan from the View wanted her to apologize to you\u2026 is there a beef between y\u2019all or not???— \ud83e\udd8bTeresa\ud83e\udd8b (@\ud83e\udd8bTeresa\ud83e\udd8b) 1627941471
Sooooooooo why is @MeghanMcCain mad and you're not?! Maybe she should have a bit of empathy for Kathy especially having gone through this with her father?!— GMcIntyre (@GMcIntyre) 1627941632
Am I the only one confused @MeghanMcCain ?!?!pic.twitter.com/wkAQzlDCtv— Gergely V (@Gergely V) 1627941863
Meghan, said Kathy owed him apology. Guess he showed her.— Glenda M (@Glenda M) 1627950580
You aware that Meghan used you as a knock at Kathy this morning on #TheView?— Gary (@Gary) 1627944549
I am also confused by this after @MeghanMcCain made such horrible comments. I believe she owes Kathy an apology.— Traci Weinstein (@Traci Weinstein) 1627947031
Other's made sure to get their attacks on McCain in before she departs The View on Friday.
Only one of them has class and it's not MM. Confusion resolved.— Music2MyEars (@Music2MyEars) 1627942076
You\u2019re a stand up guy!! Thank you @MeghanMcCain , shame on you— DawnSansevero (@DawnSansevero) 1627942477
Glad you are a bigger person then @MeghanMcCain— melinda (@melinda) 1627945265
@MeghanMcCain this is how a decent person acts. Take note.— Stef LaRue (@Stef LaRue) 1627945554
I would really have a serious conversation if my close friend used me as an excuse to attack a cancer victim. Not sure why @MeghanMcCain invoked your name as the reason she hates another women, when she hates so many for no reason at all. Thank you for being a standup guy, Clay!— G-Barb \u262e (@G-Barb \u262e) 1627947710
But most people wanted to commend the American Idol runner up for his class and sensitivity, as well as wish Griffin a speedy recovery.
Good for you @clayaiken that's the proper humane response— Patjack (@Patjack) 1627942232
Wishing a speedy recovery to you Kathy, i hope you are surrounded with love and friends for this journey, and you come through with a full recovery. Kia Kaha— Nicki (@Nicki) 1627942586
Thank you Clay. That is all.— Desi (@Desi) 1627943090
This is how it\u2019s done you\u2019re a good man Mr Aiken. Best wishes for a speedy recovery @kathygriffin— Reed (@Reed) 1627944208
I remember that u supported Kathy during the Trump fiasco. Ur a good guy.— Pat Kowall (@Pat Kowall) 1627944767
Clay you are the biggest sweetheart around.— CJSnow (@CJSnow) 1627945027
Yesprayers for Kathy— Meg Baer (@Meg Baer) 1627945419
Well done Clay! healing energy Kathy, you got this!— \ud83c\udd42\ud83c\udd37\ud83c\udd34\ud83c\udd3b\ud83c\udd3b\ud83c\udd48Get Vaccinated ffs\ud83c\udf3f\u270c\ud83c\udffc\ud83c\udf38\ud83d\udc3e (@\ud83c\udd42\ud83c\udd37\ud83c\udd34\ud83c\udd3b\ud83c\udd3b\ud83c\udd48Get Vaccinated ffs\ud83c\udf3f\u270c\ud83c\udffc\ud83c\udf38\ud83d\udc3e) 1627945896
Not surprisingly, McCain had nothing to say regarding Aiken's tweet, but Griffin certainly did.
Thanks Clay. Love you for-evah!— Kathy Griffin (@Kathy Griffin) 1628024410
@simuliu/X
@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social
@Tim_Walz/X
