It all started with an innocent enough photo. Cheadle posted an image of himself wearing a hat from the Sleeping Giants campaign, an organization that hopes to end bigotry in America. Griffin responded to the photo by putting Cheadle on blast.
Oh GREAT Don. I will never forgive you for your nasty tweet the day my smear campaign started. You know it was a fucking smear campaign and you have never taken a moment to apologize. Some liberal you are. Yes, my memory is long my ex friend. Shame on you. I kept a list. Fear me.
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) January 15, 2019
You don't remember? Look up your tweets from May 30, 2017 or May 31. You. Of all people. Just another Hollywood movie star phony. You really had a problem with my photo? U don't know a smear campaign from the oval office, the tabloids, the actual news, two federal investigations?
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) January 15, 2019
Huh? You're a dick in real life, but believe it or not I truly hope what I went through never happens to you. Never. And if it did I would be the first in line to stand up for you, get my ass on television and do everything I could to defend you & the 1st amendment. It's easy don
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) January 15, 2019
Neither did I. We had a good conversation one time. I guess he was just full of shit. Still waiting for someone of consequence to publicly stand up for what I am going through. No one with actual, visual power. You could've. Enjoy your new job, & yet I hope this never happens 2 u
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) January 15, 2019
While we're just as confused as Cheadle, it seems that Griffin is referring to the blowback from her viral Trump beheading photo, which resulted in a massive controversy and, apparently, attention from the Secret Service.
A Twitter sleuth dug up Cheadle's tweet in question, and it appears to simply be a benign statement with an emoji:
Is this what you're referencing? pic.twitter.com/mblUPYT6dV
— Alex Leo (@AlexMLeo) January 15, 2019
Still, that emoji was enough to send Griffin down a rage spiral, apparently. Get his ass, Kathy!