"Obscene and blasphemous" Emmys thank you speech

[The Bellman]

From http://thecelebritycafe.com/features/11700.html

Kathy Griffin joins the awards show drama; a comment she made during an acceptance speech will be cut from the televised version of the Creative Arts Emmy Award. Griffin took the stage after her “My Life on the D-List” won for Best Reality Program. During her speech, Griffin said: “A lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus. Suck it, Jesus. This award is my god now.”

During a backstage interview, Griffin commented “I hope I offended some people. I didn’t want to win the Emmy for nothing.”

Her remarks immediately drew a reaction from the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, calling her comments “obscene and blasphemous.” The league’s president, Bill Donohue, asked the TV Academy president to request an apology from Griffin. In response to the issue, E! has decided not to air that part of Griffin’s speech. A spokesman told the press: “Kathy Griffin’s offensive remarks will not be part of the E! telecast.” Griffin in turn released the following statement: “Am I the only Catholic left with a sense of humor?”

The pre-taped, and now edited, Creative Arts Emmys will air this Saturday on E!.

What do people think of this?

My personal opinion:

- good on her for saying that Jesus had nothing to do with her award. I hate all the celebrities who thank Jesus for their awards/home runs/superbowl victories. As Jim Bouton said, if Jesus let you hit that home run, who do you think struck you out all those times before?

- she went over the top in saying "Suck it, Jesus." That was uncalled-for and rude, and I don't see it as remotely funny (despite her wondering if she's the only Catholic left with a sense of humour).

- I don't quite understand where the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights gets off complaining about this. I don't see where what she did violated anyone's religious or civil rights. In fact, in complaining about it, it seems they are trying to violate her civil rights by muzzling her. And for what do they want her to apologise? Being rude? People are rude all the time - it's a fact of life. And I can't see where it's got anything to do with religious or civil rights.

- I'm saddened that the organisers feel they have to censor the remarks. I've heard many Christians complain when public mentions of religion are removed because non-Christians don't want to hear them - this appears to be an instance of the reverse. What she said is being censored because Christians don't want to hear it.

 

[Rik]

It's sort of en vogue nowadays to make fun of Christians and God, no more so than in Hollywood, so this is not surprising. Most people aren't even phased by it anymore so some D-list actress doing it doesn't impress me - if she really wanted to shock everyone, she should have said "Suck it Mohammed", although that would probably have gotten her the Theo Van Gogh treatment.

 

[RealDealNeverstop]

Why is this in Politics? Seems more fitting for the E + M or even philosophy forums. Think we put too much energy into caring what entertainers have to say.

 

[Verv]

I am with real deal but to chime in:

I have to say that though I have no inspiration from Buddha or Ganesh or Krishna, I have no desire to insult them or make note of it. Acceptance speeches should be for positivity and it seems Kathy was only looking to offend people, which she did.

However, it's a little ridiculous of the Catholic to call someone blasphemous who clearly is; it is just a wasted breath on someone who is already wasting our time.

 

[USincognito]

...if she really wanted to shock everyone, she should have said "Suck it Mohammed", although that would probably have gotten her the Theo Van Gogh treatment.

Maybe when we have more sports figures and celebs thanking Mohammed for their wins that might have cultural relevancy. For now this country, and those public figures who wear their religion on their sleeves are overwhelmingly Christians and that's not going to change any time soon.

 

[The Bellman]

It's sort of en vogue nowadays to make fun of Christians and God, no more so than in Hollywood, so this is not surprising. Most people aren't even phased by it anymore so some D-list actress doing it doesn't impress me - if she really wanted to shock everyone, she should have said "Suck it Mohammed", although that would probably have gotten her the Theo Van Gogh treatment.

That's ridiculous. I've seen any number of major western sporting, acting and musical figures thank Jesus and/or God; I've never heard one make fun of Christians, Jesus or God before this. She obviously did shock everyone, or it wouldn't have had the reaction it did.

But I can understand that some will have a need to somehow claim this is further evidence of the persecution Christianity is undergoing in the US. When they do that the rest of us can just laugh at their paranoia.

 

[NorrinRadd]

When I first heard the remarks, I found them obnoxious of course, but not shocking or something that would really faze me. I've heard that sort of stuff from infidels at the secular college I attended and online for over 25 years. Offensive, to be sure, but hardly compares to being thrown into a cistern, sawed in half, crucified, used as lion chow in the Colosseum, being sent to a gulag or "reeducation" center, etc.

But having now seen that she claims to be a Catholic, I do find her remarks shocking and blasphemous.

 

[RealDealNeverstop]

Anyone ever seen her stand up? Her whole gig is flaming other people and trying to offend.

 

[uberd00b]

Some people just like to be offended I think. What she said was humorous. In fact being unexpected it was the very essence of humour.

As she said, “Am I the only Catholic left with a sense of humor?”

 

[variant]

Anyone ever seen her stand up? Her whole gig is flaming other people and trying to offend.

The show she was being given an Emmy for is about attracting publicity.

 

[Grizzly]

Kathy Griffin has set up her carreer in such a way that her livelihood depends on her being controversial and attracting attention to herself. Personally I found this to be a sad attempt. There is really no reason to get up and purposely not thank someone.

But hey, she has us talking about her, so apparently her strategy is working. Actually, its kinda like Ann Coulter (without the political discussion). Ann also depends on controversy for her livelihood - hence her over-the-top comments about liberals should be hung for treason, the New York Times building should be blown up, calling Edwards a homosexual, etc... All designed to "stir controversy" and bring attention. I guess it seems to work.

 

[BlueAfgani]

People who are offended by this have far too much time on their hands.

 

[Ginny]

People just love loudmouthed women.

She's right down there with Rosie O'Donnell and Roseanne Barr.

She left out grabbing herself and farting real loud.

Yep, that's a real woman for you.

 

[EnemyPartyII]

The fact the Kathy Griffin won any sort of award for her "comedy" in the first place is perhaps the most damning evidence that there is no just God watching over us...


I mean... is she trying to be so totally unfunny that she's funny? Or what?

I don't get it.

But re: OP... storm in a teacup... if she were a REAL celebrity with any sort of artistic or intelectual credibility, she'd have said something with a point. As it is, shes so desperate to cling to whatever shred of public aknowledgement she has that she resorts to what is essentially, a cheap stunt.

You know the expression "all publicity is good"?

She made the speech she did KNOWING it would make headlines, she was banking on it in fact, and the awful irony is, that the people wailing about what she said are playing completely into her hands... thats what she WANTS...

shes not funny,
she's incapable of saying anything profound.

Lets see this for what it is, a desperate, cheap publicity stunt, and pay it the attention it deserves... nil.

 

[JustOneWay]

Who is Kate Griffin? and who cares what she says?

 

[EnemyPartyII]

Who is Kate Griffin? and who cares what she says?

quite

 

[RealDealNeverstop]

Coulter was mentioned and while the styles are similar the disturbing aspect is many rally behind much of the crap coulter spews. Griffin is just trying to be funny-albeit she often fails.

 

[KomissarSteve]

It's sort of en vogue nowadays to make fun of Christians and God

I love it when members of the Christian Right say stuff like this and seem to forget that 85% of the country is Christian.

 

[Ginny]

I love it when members of the Christian Right say stuff like this and seem to forget that 85% of the country is Christian.

lol..that's funny stuff.

That 85% agrees there is a God...and that's about as far as it goes.

And what would that definition of "Christian" be?

 

[ImmortalTechnique]

lol..that's funny stuff.

That 85% agrees there is a God...and that's about as far as it goes.

And what would that definition of "Christian" be?

here in America, we have freedom of religion. 85% of the people in this country choose to be Christians. A Christian is someone who chooses to be one, I would say.