Late summer.
A prank video mocking Trump stirred up waves across North America.
In the video, a woman named Kathy Griffin held a bloody effigy of Trump's head, muttering: "Blood coming out of his eyes, blood coming out of his... wherever."
This phrase originated from Trump's own mouth.
During the 2016 U.S. presidential TV debate, Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly questioned him sharply about his misogynistic remarks.
Later, in a CNN interview, Trump angrily declared: "She started asking me all sorts of ridiculous questions—you could see blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her... wherever. In my eyes, she's completely wrong."
Afterward, Trump posted on Twitter: "Our country has so many 'politically correct' idiots. Get back to work—don't waste more time and energy on meaningless things."
This Kathy Griffin video was clearly aimed at Trump.
So who was this Kathy Griffin?
She'd been in the industry for decades, with her most famous films being Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction and Four Rooms, where she played passerby A.
One might think she was just a "background extra" in Hollywood.
But no.
Kathy Griffin had considerable fame in the U.S.
From 2005 to 2010, her reality show Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List aired on cable TV's Bravo, making her a well-known comedian.
Since December 31, 2009, she'd co-hosted CNN's New Year's Eve live broadcast annually with the "silver-haired anchor" Anderson Cooper, often performing outrageous acts (stripping to half-naked on camera every year, and once force-kissing Cooper below the belt)—hard not to get famous.
Everyone knows Hollywood stars craft personas—like Leonardo as an "environmentalist," Meryl Streep as a "feminist fighter."
Kathy Griffin's persona was: liberal, civil rights defender.
From supporting LGBTQ rights to calling for same-sex marriage legalization, advocating for AIDS patients, she'd been at the forefront of various progressive causes, doing everything to boost her exposure and influence.
Politically, Kathy Griffin was a staunch Democrat supporter, repeatedly endorsing Democratic politicians over the years, even dipping into her own pocket to donate thousands to Obama, John Kerry, and others in front of cameras.
When Hillary Clinton ran for U.S. president, Kathy Griffin volunteered to film endorsement videos, urging fans to vote for her.
Of course, Hillary Clinton knew nothing of it—to the lofty Hillary, Kathy Griffin was just an insignificant nobody.
Clearly, Kathy Griffin wanted to make a name by attacking the U.S. president—this was par for the course in Hollywood.
In Hollywood, any talk show host who hadn't mocked the president wasn't qualified. Satirizing and ridiculing the president in films was commonplace.
But Griffin seemed to forget: Trump wasn't your typical politician. He wouldn't magnanimously laugh it off.
Especially since Griffin's video was a bit too inflammatory—it went viral en masse, with gossip sites adding eye-catching headlines like "Griffin Wants to Chop Off Trump's Head."
Not only was Trump uncomfortable with it—people from all walks of life in North America condemned it unanimously, deeming Griffin had crossed the line.
As the subject, Trump and his family responded swiftly.
Trump's wife, Melania Trump, tweeted her criticism: "As a mother, wife, and person, that video makes me deeply uneasy. Considering the atrocities happening in the world today, doing this is utterly wrong—it makes one wonder if the person behind it has mental issues?"
Trump himself wouldn't stay silent.
He tweeted: "This woman should be ashamed. My children—especially my 11-year-old son—are very upset seeing this. She's sick!"
Under pressure from all sides, Griffin deleted the video and guiltily admitted she'd "gone too far," sincerely begging for understanding.
She also stated through her lawyer: "Like all edgy art pieces, that image can be interpreted from various angles." But it was absolutely not a violent threat against Trump.
But the damage was done. First, the U.S.-popular "Squatty Potty" (a toilet aid device) company announced they no longer wanted her as spokesperson.
Then, CNN—which usually spared no effort attacking Trump—announced she wouldn't host this year's New Year's event, stating: "Her actions make us feel disgusted and rude."
Her nearly decade-long collaborator Anderson Cooper also said: "The video shocked me—clearly, this was disgusting and completely inappropriate."
New Jersey to California—seven originally scheduled Griffin talk shows, all theaters successively canceled; audiences could get full refunds.
Minnesota Democratic Senator Al Franken (originally a comedian, long-time Saturday Night Live cast member) also canceled plans for her to guest at his new book signing.
Her reputation ruined—it seemed even her money followed suit.
Nevada Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, who'd received $1,000 from Griffin in 2016, also drew a line, announcing she'd donate that $1,000 to charity.
Of course, it wasn't without supporters for Kathy Griffin.
Even if none, Hillary would quietly arrange some.
As for whether the escalating affair would lead Griffin to face even graver consequences?
That, Hillary couldn't care less.
She just wanted to see Trump suffer!!!