Controversial broadcaster Meghan McCain has drawn criticism for a rant against Kathy Griffin she unleashed just hours after the comedian revealed she had lung cancer.
Griffin announced she was about to go into surgery to have half of her left lung removed even though she's "never smoked". Doctors were optimistic, she said, and it was unlikely she would need chemotherapy or radiation.
When asked about the Fashion Police star's news on The View, McCain didn't mince her words, declaring: "I don't like her, I'm never gonna like her."
McCain said it was "terrible and scary" to be diagnosed with cancer, but said she had an "issue" with Griffin because of the "cruel and homophobic jokes" she made about McCain's friend and former American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken in the early 2000s.
"Clay Aiken is one of my closest friends in the entire world. He's ostensibly my brother. She made very, very, very cruel and homophobic jokes about him before he was out of the closet," she said.
Referring to Griffin's admission that she struggled with substance abuse, McCain added: "Lucky he didn't end up becoming an opioid addict, given the degree of bullying that happened to him when he was still struggling to come out of the closet."
McCain said she would "love to hear an apology" for Aiken considering Griffin appeared to be "soul searching".
"I don't like her, I'm never gonna like her for all the jokes she made about Clay," she concluded.
However, McCain's comments didn't appear to align with a message of well wishes written by Aiken to Griffin on Twitter following the news of her diagnosis.
"Love and prayers for a speedy recovery to my dear friend @kathygriffin!" he captioned a photo of the pair posing together.
"Selfless and gracious, she even hosted a fundraiser for my congressional campaign years ago. Get well soon Kathy. I miss your jokes!"
