In reversal, Al Franken won't appear with Kathy Griffin in July

A day after saying he still planned to appear with comedian Kathy Griffin after a photo featuring her with a head looking like President Donald Trump's, Sen. Al Franken has reversed course.

In a statement late Thursday, Franken said he had heard from many Minnesotans "who were rightfully offended" by plans to appear with Griffin in July at an event meant to promote his new book, "Al Franken, Giant of the Senate."

"I've come to the conclusion that it would be best for her not to participate in the event we had previously scheduled," Franken said in the statement.

In a town hall discussion on Sirius XM Wednesday, Franken, a Minnesota Democrat, said that not only did the comic ask for forgiveness, she begged for it.

"And I believe in forgiveness," he said in the clip below.

Minnesota GOP Chairman Jennifer Carnahan had called out Franken and Griffin on Tuesday, asking the senator to cancel the Beverly Hills event on Facebook.

Franken had said he "condemned" the photo and called Griffin to tell her why the photo was "unacceptable."

Also Read: CNN Drops Kathy Griffin Over Decapitated Trump Photo

"I believe what Kathy Griffin did was inappropriate and not something that should be anywhere in our national discourse," Franken said Thursday. "I consider her a friend and I'm glad she realized she crossed the line and apologized."

Griffin has been dropped from CNN's New Year's Eve celebration, which she previously hosted with Anderson Cooper. "CNN has terminated our agreement with Kathy Griffin to appear on our New Year's Eve program," a network spokesperson told TheWrap in a statement.

"I crossed the line," Griffin said in a video post via Twitter on Tuesday. "I went way too far. The image is too disturbing, I understand how it offends people. It wasn't funny. I get it. I've made a lot of mistakes in my career, I will continue. I ask for your forgiveness. Taking down the image.

"I'm going to ask the photographer to take down the image. And I beg for your forgiveness. I went too far. I made a mistake and I was wrong," she continued.

President Trump has condemned the image as "sick."