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Georgia Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene was widely mocked on Twitter after comedian Kathy Griffin hit back at her for criticizing right-wing troll Alex Stein, who had sexually harassed a female reporter at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).
Writing on Twitter, Griffin shared a video of Stein's antics during the convention and identified him as Fox News personality Tucker Carlson's son—which is incorrect, as Stein was only joking about his connection to Carlson in the video.
Griffin then aimed a larger criticism at the Republican Party, writing "misogyny with this crowd is just as pervasive as the racism."
\u201cThis is Tucker Carlson\u2018s son. The misogyny with this crowd is just as pervasive as the racism.\u201d— Kathy Griffin (@Kathy Griffin) 1659981089
Greene responded shortly after, sharing a now-infamous photo of Griffin holding a likeness of the severed head of former Republican President Donald Trump.
Greene defended Stein, saying he was "simply treating a hard leftist reporter the same way they treat people on the right," adding that Stein had criticized her "to her face with facts and no mask."
\u201cThis is Kathy Griffin holding a severed head of the 45th President of the United States \n\nShe\u2019s calling Alex Stein misogynist & racist for simply treating a hard leftist reporter the same way they treat people on the right.\n\nExcept he did it to her face with facts and no mask.\u201d— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1659986950
But much like Tucker Carlson or GOP Senator Ted Cruz trying to take on Jon Stewart, taking on a professional comedian in a war of words rarely ends well.
Griffin tweeted:
"Use my handle, traitor."
In other words, "if you're going to talk about me, you should have the guts to tag me."
\u201c@RepMTG Use my handle, traitor.\u201d— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1659986950
\u201c@Kaylan_TX @kathygriffin @RepMTG\u201d— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1659986950
\u201cAre you tweeting this while hiding in a bathroom stall at Mar-a-Lago, hunty???\u201d— Kathy Griffin (@Kathy Griffin) 1660002566
Many came to Griffin's defense.
\u201cThis is unironically the coolest thing Kathy Griffin ever did\u201d— Italian Pepsiman (@Italian Pepsiman) 1660043155
\u201cThis is Mar Mar\n\nShe got a political appointment by harassing an elected official at her job.\nThis is her, dissecting humor, when every American who is worth a damn was offended by the former President's gross overreaction to KG. \nNo masks were harmed during the making of this.\ud83d\ude44\u201d— Chanzy (@Chanzy) 1660074812
\u201cYet @kathygriffin didn\u2019t try to over throw the government and continue supporting to coup two years later.\n\nKarma is coming, Marge!\u201d— Ryan Shead (@Ryan Shead) 1659991651
\u201cIt gives me great comfort that your name in history will be reviled as much as Trump.People will remember those who sacrificed truth, decency and liberty for a fascist who tried to overthrow a democracy that once stood as a beacon before the con men infiltrated the Conservatives!\u201d— Darlene Grant (@Darlene Grant) 1660007751
\u201c\ud83d\udfe5Doubly false equivalence. Griffin was harshly criticized for this, from the left. AND the "they" here is one person. Stein's actions are common from the right.\nAnd still whinging about masks, two years into a pandemic.\nMarjorie Taylor Greene is a stochastic terrorist.\u201d— IRTStochastic (@IRTStochastic) 1660012625
\u201cYou literally spread Islamophobic rhetoric to fund your campaign and you have NEVER, EVER apologized for how much violence you influence against Muslim communities in America.\n\nSit this one OUT.\u201d— Ariana Afshar (she/her) (@Ariana Afshar (she/her)) 1659993285
\u201cBut carrying an actual gun into the Capitol while promoting violence is ok?\u201d— Teri Robins (@Teri Robins) 1660003376
\u201cWhat does this have to do with breaking the laws and violating our constitution?\u201d— Hedy Salazar (@Hedy Salazar) 1660071702
\u201cIt\u2019s a mask\u2026with ketchup on it.\u201d— Alex (@Alex) 1659999673
\u201cI would rather have someone performing like Kathy Griffin than one single Christian Nationalist Fascist Nazi trying to overthrow our government like you. \n\nThe GOP is full of vile people since trump\u201d— Mike Sharnet (@Mike Sharnet) 1660000902
In May 2017, Griffin posted a video of herself holding a prop meant to resemble former President Trump's severed head. She wrote at the time, referencing a past comment Trump made about former Fox News anchorwoman Megyn Kelly:
"I caption this 'there was blood coming out of his eyes, blood coming out of his...wherever."
Griffin was savaged for the image, and several members of the Trump family criticized her. Soon afterward, she removed the photo from her social media accounts and asked for forgiveness.
The backlash cost Griffin marketing deals and her spot on CNN's New Year's Eve broadcast with Anderson Cooper. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Secret Service investigated her to determine if she was, in fact, a threat to the President.
In the fall of 2017, Griffin retracted her apology. She would later tellThe Hollywood Reporter:
"I didn't commit a crime. I didn't rape anybody. I didn't assault anybody. I didn't get a DUI. I mean, my God, there are celebrities that f**king kill people."
The incident made the often-controversial Griffin the poster child for "Trump derangement syndrome," angering many on the political right amid a national conversation on the limits of First Amendment rights.