Jimmy Kimmel’s ABC late-night show was pulled from the air for a week in September following remarks he made about Charlie Kirk’s death.
Kathy Griffin is standing by Jimmy Kimmel.
The comedian, 64, told that she reached out to Kimmel “on day one” after his ABC late-night show was taken off the air for a week in September, following comments he made about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
“It’s been really triggering for me because Jimmy was the only one who would have me on his show during all those years I was canceled,” Griffin shared, referring to the backlash from her 2017 photoshoot showing her holding a fake severed head of then-President Donald Trump. “I know what it’s like to have the bigwigs and head honchos say, ‘She’s too dangerous.’” (Kimmel’s show has since returned to air.)
Griffin also discussed her new YouTube comedy special, My Life on the PTSD List, where she opens up about her experiences since the Trump photo scandal. Over the past eight years, she’s faced major challenges including a pill addiction, a suicide attempt, a lung cancer diagnosis, and a divorce from her second husband, Randy Bick.
“I talk about some heavy stuff, but my audiences tell me they’re glad I went there,” she said. “I’ve had a deluge of difficulties since the Trump photo, but I’ve learned that even when things aren’t funny in the moment, someday they will be. There’s comedy in everything.”
Kathy Griffin’s comedy career began in the 1990s, inspired by Joan Rivers’ “outrageous” style, though she says she never intended to be a provocateur. Early on, she was often criticized for being shallow, focusing mostly on pop culture.
Everything changed after the 2017 Trump photo scandal. Griffin revealed she was investigated by the Justice Department and even placed on the No-Fly List. The fallout affected her personally as well: “So many of my friends dumped me,” she says.
The scandal also triggered a dark period in her life. Griffin fell into depression, became addicted to OxyContin and benzodiazepines, and after a suicide attempt, was placed on a psychiatric hold.
Her recovery began when she joined a 12-Step program, and in June, she celebrated five years of sobriety. Griffin jokes about attending women-only AA meetings to avoid romantic entanglements, noting that many of her closest friends since the scandal have come from the program.
In 2021, Kathy Griffin faced another challenge when she was diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer. During surgery to remove half of her left lung, an intubation tube permanently paralyzed her left vocal cord, leaving her with a higher-pitched voice she described as “sounding like Minnie Mouse.” Thankfully, she was declared cancer-free months later.
Griffin credits singer Sia for connecting her with Dr. Anca Barbu in Los Angeles, who performed vocal cord surgery. “I felt like I got my life back overnight,” Griffin said.
Two years later, Griffin went through a divorce from her second husband, Randy Bick, after three years of marriage. “I was down for the count,” she admitted. She briefly tried dating apps but quickly stepped away after unsettling experiences, joking, “Welcome to dating over 60.”
Griffin will launch her new comedy tour, New Face, New Tour — a nod to her recent facelift — on Nov. 8 in Las Vegas, continuing through May 2026. Known for pushing boundaries, she changes her act nightly and incorporates local material, sometimes testing the limits of comedy. She recalled one show where she read aloud the local sex offender list, prompting a call from Cher telling her to “Get home, bitch. Get back to Malibu.”
Despite the controversies, Griffin feels public perception has softened over time. “I think people are feeling like, ‘Okay, the photo was offensive, but it’s now been eight years, and she wasn’t ruined by it,’” she said. Fans frequently comment that she’s “risen from the ashes,” which she calls the best compliment of all. “I’m proud of the fact I’m still here.”