President Donald Trump and NBC have a relationship that’s too close for comfort, according to one former star of the peacock network.
Kathy Griffin, who starred in NBC’s hit sitcom “Suddenly Susan” from 1996 to 2000, said comedians have a certain obligation to challenge authority figures.
“There seems to be some sort of relationship between NBC and Trump that’s not good. It’s not good,” Griffin told TheWrap in a wide-ranging interview Tuesday. “There is a lot of collusion between him still being able to do ‘The Apprentice,'” the comedian added.
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“I worked at NBC for well over 10 years,” Griffin said. “Trust me — they can fire you.”
NBC famously severed its ties with Trump soon after the reality-show host launched his incendiary presidential campaign. But in December, it was reported that Trump would retain credit as executive producer of the revived reality series. His spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, confirmed last year that Trump has also maintained a financial interest in the franchise.
Griffin also took aim at “Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon, who was recently criticized by “Late Show” legend
David Letterman
for playfully tousling Trump’s hair-don’t during in an interview in September.
“I do agree with him actually,” Griffin said about Letterman. “I do think that the Fallon moment wasn’t great.”
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Griffin said she’d discussed Trump’s now infamous late-night interview with fellow comedians and they agree that Fallon should have gone harder on the then-presidntial nominee.
“We’ve been talking about this a lot,” she said. “Now truly is the time to speak up. I think most comics are hard-wired that way.”
Griffin, who will receive the Vanguard award Sunday from the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus for her achievements in the LGBTQ advocacy, said that unlike reporters and members of the media who have to be impartial and objective, comedians can take a more aggressive and biting stance, Griffin said.
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“It can actually change people minds,” she said.
Watch the video above.
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