Kathy Griffin and Suck it Jesus

This is going to be an offensive post. You will be offended. You will be wrong. By the end of reading this post–unless you are an ignorant, inflexible bigot–you will see the wisdom I am so kindly going to provide for you.

I’m generous like that.

This week comedian Kathy Griffin won an emmy for her television show “My Life on the D-List.” Good for her. She has demonstrated marketing savvy that has brought her from stand-up, to supporting role in a weekly sitcom, to the very pinnacle of comedy success. She’s got fame and money.

She’s got brains, looks and a sense of humor. (Of course I said she has looks–you do realize I have a weakness for petite curly redheads, right?)

In accepting her award she made a joke about how everyone thanks Jesus for their success. She went on to say Jesus didn’t have anything to do with HER winning. She ended by thrusting the award to the sky and taunting “Suck it Jesus!”

Funny? Maybe. Comedy often operates at an edge between acceptable and profane. I know many at this blog would have found it pretty funny.

But many Christians had their delicate sensibilities offended and loudly complained.

In response to the outrage, the E! network decided to edit out the comment when it aired a tape of the show.

Now the non-Christians and moderates complained. “Censorship” they cried. “How dare someone try to put a muzzle on free speech? This is un-American.”

You probably fall into one of the two camps. If so, you’re wrong.

This is only about money.

Kathy is a commodity. She is an entertainer. She will make money as long as people want to pay to hear her say the things she says and do the things she does. When people no longer want to pay for her comedy, she’s done making money.

E! is also a commodity. As long as people watch, they can sell advertising and make money. But if groups like the A-fuckin’-A threaten advertisers with boycotts, advertisers cancel their sponsorships. E! was smart enough to realize that.

Kathy, you, me and E! all have the right to say whatever we want. But if we engage in unpopular speech it may cost us. That’s not censorship, that’s just business.

So suck it…up.




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Picture from Queerty.com