A Denver Post reporter axed his story and apologized for “making a false equivalence” after being raked over the coals by Kathy Griffin.
The comedian took offense to Denver Post writer John Wenzel and his tweet promoting an interview he did with the comedian ahead of her comeback tour that starts next week.
“We are now at a place, regardless of politics, where @kathygriffin gets to come back but Bill Cosby, Al Franken, Louis C.K. etc. do not,” Wenzel wrote in a now-deleted tweet.
Griffin tore into the writer for comparing the accused men to her fall from grace after the infamous photo of her with a mock decapitated head of President Trump.
You’re putting me in the same tweet as a convicted rapist, a guy accused by 8 women of groping, and a guy who jerked off in front of women without their consent @johnwenzel? I took one photo with a halloween mask covered in ketchup. https://t.co/DDcexG6zdg
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) August 17, 2018
B) Reporters ask for my story and I tell them honestly. This misogyny has been with me my entire career since I was 18 years old and did my first TV commercial. I don’t know @johnwenzel‘s background. I just know how he feels about women. That women are less valuable than men.
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) August 17, 2018
Griffin’s attack prompted a reply from Wenzel that led to an explosive exchange on Twitter with the 57-year-old unloading in profanity filled replies.
OK as long as you get to save yourself some time, asshole. I did read the interview. I gave it to you, fuck face. Now run off to your maga rally. You persecuted white guys all need to start your whiny circle jerk now while chanting “white men are people too, ladies” Bye https://t.co/e1KqPg06fy
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) August 17, 2018
Wenzel attempted to explain his comments to another Twitter user.
Re: comics in exile I’m painting with a broad brush. But I’m not saying what she did is worse than rape. I’m saying it’s fascinating (and, yes, encouraging) that free speech in this country is still not as big a sin as sexual assault — despite having an openly sexist president
— John Wenzel (@johnwenzel) August 17, 2018
But Griffin attacked his remarks and the two continued, with Wenzel eventually apologizing for his story and saying his editors pulled the interview from The Denver Post.
No, that’s bullshit. Good reporters screenshot the tweet and tweet out the screenshot indicating what they got wrong. That way the tweet doesn’t spread but they’re also not erasing their mistake. Want examples John of reporters who do it that way?
Happy to send you a ton. https://t.co/z2hofkhpb6
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) August 17, 2018
Delete the tweet @johnwenzel – are you saying you have higher journalistic standards than reporters at the New York Times, CNN, and Washington Post? https://t.co/0tR8f4ASUs
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) August 17, 2018
“Journalist?” OK John. I’ve been dealing with douche bag, so called writers like this my whole career. I literally probably do 20 of these interviews a week!!! Hustling to sell tickets. 57 years old, being a female let me tell you it is a grind but I LOVE MAKING PEOPLE LAUGH! https://t.co/z2hofkhpb6
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) August 17, 2018
“I sincerely apologize for making a false equivalence in this hasty, careless tweet about my @kathygriffin interview, which I have deleted after consulting with my editors,” Wenzel wrote.
I sincerely apologize for making a false equivalence in this hasty, careless tweet about my @kathygriffin interview, which I have deleted after consulting with my editors. pic.twitter.com/Xd96PDtGes
— John Wenzel (@johnwenzel) August 17, 2018
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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