• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
LeadershipMost Powerful Women

CEO’s Sexist Tirade Against Neighbor Kathy Griffin Was Caught on Tape

Claire Zillman
By
Claire Zillman
Claire Zillman
Editor, Leadership
Down Arrow Button Icon
Claire Zillman
By
Claire Zillman
Claire Zillman
Editor, Leadership
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 20, 2017, 9:13 AM ET

The CEO of homebuilder KB Home this past weekend unleashed a sexist and homophobic rant against comedian Kathy Griffin that was caught on tape.

According to audio obtained by The Huffington Post, KB Home CEO Jeffrey Mezger confronted his neighbors Griffin and partner Randy Bick on Saturday after the couple reportedly filed a complaint about noise coming from Mezger’s Bel Air property.

Mezger’s expletive-filled tirade, in which he referred to Griffin as a “fucking bald dyke” and a “fucking cunt,” was picked up on security cameras at Griffin and Bick’s residence. Bick shared the recording with The Huffington Post. (Griffin had recently shaved her head in solidarity with her sister, who was receiving chemotherapy treatment and who died on Thursday.)

“Let’s declare war,” Mezger is heard saying, “’cause we got a lot to go for. Let’s bring it on.” He punctuates the passage with several more expletives.

Click here to subscribe to the Broadsheet, Fortune’s daily newsletter on the world’s most powerful women.

As the recording made the rounds on Tuesday, it prompted backlash against the chief executive. Personal finance guru Suze Orman, for one, called out Mezger’s “disgraceful talk.”

I can't believe this! Disgraceful talk from the CEO of KB HOMES. You really want to buy a home from this man? Beyond Disgusting ! pic.twitter.com/BlM1Fumcce

— suzeormanshow (@SuzeOrmanShow) September 19, 2017

Mezger also made reference to the now-infamous photo of Griffin holding a fake bloody severed head resembling President Donald Trump. He said Trump had “put the heat on” Griffin.

The photo prompted backlash from the White House in May and cost Griffin her relationship with CNN. Griffin eventually apologized for the photo, acknowledging that it was out of bounds, but she told an Australian TV show in August that she was no longer sorry.

“I don’t apologize for that photo anymore,” she said. “We have real things to deal with.”

The feud between Mezger and his neighbors goes beyond the encounter on Saturday. Since moving into their home a year ago, Griffin and Bick have filed several noise complaints against Mezger, HuffPo reports.

KB Home did not immediately respond to Fortune‘s request for comment.

In a statement to the New York Times, the publicly-traded company said Mezger had apologized to Griffin and that he regrets “losing his temper and the language he used.”

“It does not reflect who he is or what he believes,” the statement said.

The company said Mezger believes there’s no excuse for such behavior, but also cited a “series of unneighborly actions” by Griffin and Bick.

Mezger took over as CEO of KB Home (KBH), one of the nation’s largest homebuilders, in 2006 after then-CEO Bruce Karatz retired after an internal investigation into backdating of stock options. Mezger previously held the role of COO.

In 2009, KB Home, known for its sustainable building practices, was named to Fortune‘s Most Admired Companies list, ranking No. 1 among homebuilders.

About the Author
Claire Zillman
By Claire ZillmanEditor, Leadership
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Claire Zillman is a senior editor at Fortune, overseeing leadership stories. 

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Leadership

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Leadership

Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman
SuccessCareers
Blackstone CEO admits his first big investment loss nearly brought him to tears—but the lesson put him on a path to now being worth $47 billion
By Emma BurleighMay 10, 2026
28 minutes ago
nicole
MPWWealth
Meet Goldman’s athlete whisperer: the woman who stands guard against $1 billion of fraud targeting sports fortunes
By Nick LichtenbergMay 10, 2026
3 hours ago
Young man working on laptop with headphones in modern coffeeshop
Future of Workskills gap
AI generated identical résumés for a man and a woman: Hers was more likely to be labeled ‘weak,’ while his got a 97% approval rating
By Eleanor PringleMay 10, 2026
5 hours ago
‘I lost more money than anybody in the history of capitalism!’: Remembering Ted Turner
C-SuiteFinance
‘I lost more money than anybody in the history of capitalism!’: Remembering Ted Turner
By Shawn TullyMay 10, 2026
5 hours ago
As hantavirus outbreak unfolds, the CDC is missing in action, experts say. ‘I’m very sorry to say that we are not prepared’
PoliticsHealth
As hantavirus outbreak unfolds, the CDC is missing in action, experts say. ‘I’m very sorry to say that we are not prepared’
By Mike Stobbe and The Associated PressMay 9, 2026
22 hours ago
Photo of Zak Brown
SuccessSports
Before the McLaren CEO got a $50 million payday from his team’s F1 championship, he was a high-school dropout who got his start on Wheel of Fortune
By Sasha RogelbergMay 9, 2026
23 hours ago

Most Popular

'Employers are increasingly turning to degree and GPA' in hiring: Recruiters retreat from ‘talent is everywhere,’ double down on top colleges
Future of Work
'Employers are increasingly turning to degree and GPA' in hiring: Recruiters retreat from ‘talent is everywhere,’ double down on top colleges
By Jake AngeloMay 9, 2026
23 hours ago
Ted Cruz says the quiet part out loud: Trump accounts are Social Security personal accounts as GOP senator reveals 'dirty little secret'
Politics
Ted Cruz says the quiet part out loud: Trump accounts are Social Security personal accounts as GOP senator reveals 'dirty little secret'
By Jason MaMay 9, 2026
19 hours ago
Red flag test: former CEO explains why he rejects job candidates who say they can start right away
Success
Red flag test: former CEO explains why he rejects job candidates who say they can start right away
By Orianna Rosa RoyleMay 9, 2026
1 day ago
You're probably safe from the Hantavirus outbreak, but here's what you absolutely must not do, experts say
Politics
You're probably safe from the Hantavirus outbreak, but here's what you absolutely must not do, experts say
By Catherina GioinoMay 8, 2026
2 days ago
Companies are abandoning 'peanut butter' raises as pay-for-performance takes over the workplace in the AI era
Future of Work
Companies are abandoning 'peanut butter' raises as pay-for-performance takes over the workplace in the AI era
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezMay 9, 2026
1 day ago
A Michigan farm town voted down plans for a giant OpenAI-Oracle data center. Weeks later, construction began
Magazine
A Michigan farm town voted down plans for a giant OpenAI-Oracle data center. Weeks later, construction began
By Sharon GoldmanMay 6, 2026
4 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.