Jeffrey Mezger, CEO of KB Home and one of the most influential names in real estate, is having his bonus cut by 25 percent after audio of him on an anti-gay, sexist tirade against comedian Kathy Griffin leaked.
“Mr. Mezger’s recent behavior in his personal dealings with a neighbor is unacceptable and a negative reflection on KB Home,” the KB board of directors wrote in a filing Thursday.
The board also warned the CEO that he would be fired if he acted similarly in the future.
Mezger’s outburst against Griffin and her partner was captured on security camera and published by the Huffington Post earlier this week.
During the verbal attack, Mezger came after Griffin, calling her a “fucking bald dyke” and a “cunt” after she reported him to police for a noise complaint.
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation responded to board’s punishments on Thursday, telling the Huffington Post that Mezger’s slurs “were homophobic, derogatory, and beyond ill-befitting of the CEO of a company that undoubtedly employs LGBTQ people, The board of KB Home should seriously consider the message his comments sent to both employees and customers when it comes to their treatment of this incident.”
Griffin shaved her head earlier this summer in support of her sister, Joyce Griffin, who was undergoing chemotherapy. Griffin’s sister passed away last week.
