Kathy Griffin'S Bold Comeback: Touring With No Apologies

Kathy Griffin Returns to the Stage

Comedian Kathy Griffin is back in the spotlight and ready to take the comedy world by storm once more. It’s been eight long years since she faced a major career setback after a controversial photo shoot where she held up a likeness of then-President Donald Trump’s severed head. But now, Griffin is back on tour, embracing her bold comedic style without holding back.

Reflections on the Trump Controversy

In a candid interview with Jake Nevins for Interview magazine, Griffin opened up about her infamous 2017 photo shoot that led to widespread backlash. She called Trump a “bully” and expressed regret over apologizing for the photo, a decision she says was influenced by her publicist. Reflecting on the incident, Griffin remarked, “I should have just said, ‘No, this photo is covered by the First Amendment.’ But now, I really think we’re Germany in the ‘30s, and we’re the frogs and the pot is boiling.”

“I mean, go harder. I can just hear Don Rickles and Joan Rivers in my head—who I knew and were my mentors and friends—saying, ‘Go harder.’”

Facing the Fallout

Griffin’s photo, captioned with a jab at Trump’s comments about Megyn Kelly, ignited a firestorm of criticism, even from notable figures like Chelsea Clinton and Anderson Cooper. Initially, Griffin defended her actions as satire, but the growing outrage led her to issue an apology. Despite her attempts to make amends, the damage was done—she lost major advertising deals and her New Year’s Eve gig with CNN.

Embracing Her Unapologetic Style

Despite the fallout, Griffin remains unapologetically herself. She’s turning her past controversies into comedic gold with her new tour, aptly named “New Face, New Tour,” kicking off in California. When asked if the experience has made her more cautious in her work, Griffin confidently replied, “Not one bit.”

Griffin even shared advice she received from fellow comedian Jim Carrey during the height of the scandal: he urged her to view the experience through her “comedy prism” and believed that “something good’s going to come out of this.” And while Griffin acknowledges she could have taken a more family-friendly comedic path, she insists, “Unfortunately, I can’t stop myself. I never learn my lesson.”

A New Chapter

As Griffin celebrates her 65th birthday with a fresh look and a fearless attitude, she’s ready to prove that she’s still a force to be reckoned with in comedy. Her comeback tour is set to feature her signature unfiltered humor, with potential jabs at her long-time nemesis, Donald Trump. With her mentors’ voices urging her to “go harder,” Griffin is poised to make her mark once again in the comedy scene.