Let’s talk about someone who knows the meaning of resilience: Kathy Griffin. Calling her a survivor feels like an understatement. This stand-up comedian, Emmy-winning star of My Life on the D-list, and actress has faced more challenges than most people could imagine. She battled lung cancer, underwent surgery that permanently altered her voice, and even went through a separation from her husband, Randy Bick, after just three years of marriage. “I shouldn’t have married that guy,” she told Closer in an exclusive interview. But Kathy’s journey goes deeper than that. She’s also fought depression, prescription drug addiction, and a scandal that almost derailed her entire career. “One day, I was working nonstop, and the next, I was labeled a terrorist, and no one would hire me,” she reflects.
Despite everything, Kathy, now 63, has risen above it all. With the unwavering support of her friends—celebrities and everyday folks alike—and the love of her fans, she’s back in action. In 2024, she’s hitting the road again, bringing her signature humor to audiences across America with her "My Life on the PTSD-List" tour. This isn’t just a comeback; it’s a celebration of survival and strength.
Who Inspired Kathy's Comedy?
When you’re a trailblazer in comedy, it helps to have role models who paved the way. Kathy Griffin credits some legendary figures for shaping her career. “Joan Rivers was my mentor and a close friend,” she shares. “Seeing her guest-host The Tonight Show was a big deal. She said things no one else dared to say and faced backlash for it, but she stayed true to herself. She worked hard for everything she achieved, and I admired that.”
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But Joan wasn’t the only one who left a mark on Kathy. “Moms Mabley also inspired me when I was younger. Watching women perform comedy alone was groundbreaking. And let’s not forget Don Rickles—he was a dear friend, and I miss him so much. He hated being called an insult comic. He believed he brought joy and laughter to people, and he absolutely did. He made fun of people, but he never meant harm. That’s something I strive for in my own work.”
A New Chapter: The "PTSD-List" Tour
Kathy’s latest tour isn’t just about making people laugh—it’s about healing through humor. “The whole show acknowledges the PTSD I’ve experienced over the past six years,” she explains. “First, there’s the fact that my voice sounds different because of the surgery I had for lung cancer. I had part of my left lung removed, even though I’ve never smoked a day in my life. Then, I lost my mom, which was devastating. And if that wasn’t enough, there was the whole Trump controversy, which nearly destroyed my career. To top it all off, I became addicted to prescription pills, and at one point, I almost took my own life.”
These are heavy topics, but Kathy found a way to turn them into comedy gold. “At first, I was nervous about addressing PTSD in a way that wouldn’t make the audience uncomfortable,” she admits. “But I figured, if I can get them to clap for things they’ve experienced—like cancer, addiction, or divorce—then they’ll let me go there. If I can make it funny, they’ll be with me every step of the way.”
The Controversial Photo That Changed Everything
In 2017, Kathy posted a photo of herself holding a mask of President Trump that appeared to be dripping with fake blood. The fallout was swift and severe. “My industry turned on me,” she recalls. “I was in the middle of a 50-city tour when it happened. Then, 25 cities canceled because of threats. The government launched an official investigation against me, and my lawyers warned me, ‘This is serious. They’re considering charging you with conspiracy.’ I spent a million dollars on legal fees. After that, I was stopped at every airport in the U.S. and abroad. They’d confiscate my phone and passport. They wanted to ruin my career.”
It wasn’t just the industry that turned against her. “The death threats were relentless,” she says. “The FBI would show up at my door and say, ‘There’s a credible threat against you.’ I was public enemy number one. Thankfully, my fans stuck by me through it all.”
Where Does Her Resilience Come From?
Kathy credits her parents for instilling a strong sense of resilience. “My dad, John, lived to 90, and my mom, Maggie, made it to 99,” she says. “They were tough. Growing up, dinner table conversations revolved around politics and current events. You were expected to know what you were talking about. My dad would say, ‘Read the paper.’ That’s a habit I still carry with me today. Whatever city I’m performing in, I always start the show with local news.”
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Positive Outcomes from the Scandal
Even amid the chaos, Kathy found silver linings. “I’m now part of a daily text chain with Mary Trump, E. Jean Carroll, and Stormy Daniels,” she reveals. “They’re incredibly strong women. Stormy even flew to Vegas to see my first show in six years. E. Jean and Mary are coming to see me during my New York stops. Without the scandal, I wouldn’t know them. It’s taught me who my real friends are.”
Reflecting on her life, Kathy admits there are things she’d do differently. “I wish I hadn’t started my career so late,” she says. “I worked for free for years, thinking I couldn’t negotiate like my male counterparts. I should’ve gotten my mom a dog sooner and bought my parents their condo earlier. They didn’t grow up with much,
