Challenges Faced by Kathy Griffin: Obstacles and Turning Points

A closer look at the defining struggles that shaped Kathy Griffin's life and career.

Kathleen Mary Griffin, known professionally as Kathy Griffin, is an American comedian and actress. She's recognized for her stand-up comedy, television series appearances, and numerous comedy specials and albums. Griffin gained wider recognition for her reality show, Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, for which she won Primetime Emmy Awards in 2007 and 2008. In addition to her comedy work, she has played supporting roles in various films.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1999: Near-death experience during liposuction

In 1999, Kathy Griffin nearly died during a liposuction procedure in Los Angeles. She has also undergone multiple plastic surgeries including breast augmentation and a nose job.

2009: Autobiography on Food Issues

In her 2009 autobiography Official Book Club Selection, Kathy Griffin wrote about her struggles with a binge eating disorder, mentioning she still has food issues but has learned to deal with them.

Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin

Check it on Amazon

May 2017: Fallout from Trump photo

In May 2017, Kathy Griffin was dropped by Squatty Potty, and CNN fired her from its New Year's Eve broadcast with Anderson Cooper due to the Trump photo controversy. All remaining tour dates were canceled.

May 30, 2017: Posting of Trump severed head photo

On May 30, 2017, Kathy Griffin posted a video on her Instagram and Twitter accounts of herself holding a mask styled to look like the severed, bloody head of then-U.S. President Donald Trump.

June 2, 2017: Lisa Bloom's statement

On June 2, 2017, Lisa Bloom, Kathy Griffin's attorney, stated that the Trump severed head photo was not intended as a threat of violence against Trump and Griffin stated that the Trump family was "trying to ruin my life forever".

August 2017: Defense of Trump photo

In August 2017, during an interview on Australian television, Kathy Griffin defended the Trump photo saying it was not more important than the atrocities committed by the President of the United States.

October 28, 2017: Release of A Hell of a Story Video

On October 28, 2017, Kathy Griffin uploaded a YouTube video titled "Kathy Griffin: A Hell of a Story" detailing the backlash she received for the Trump photo controversy, which became the basis for her A Hell of a Story concert film. Griffin also said she was under a federal investigation and on the No Fly and Interpol lists.

November 2017: Retraction of Apology

In November 2017, Kathy Griffin appeared on Skavlan and retracted her apology for the Trump photo, saying she had received bad advice at the time.

2017: Donald Trump severed head controversy

In 2017, Kathy Griffin faced controversy for holding a mask styled as Donald Trump's severed head, leading to a Secret Service investigation.

June 2020: Developed addiction to prescription drugs

By June 2020, Kathy Griffin developed an addiction to prescription drugs.

November 4, 2020: Re-posting of Trump severed head photo

On November 4, 2020, which was Kathy Griffin's 60th birthday and the day after the 2020 United States presidential election, Griffin re-posted a photo of herself with a model of Donald Trump's bloody, severed head.

August 2021: Lung cancer diagnosis and surgery

In August 2021, Kathy Griffin announced she had been diagnosed with lung cancer, despite being a non-smoker, and needed to have half of her left lung removed. She underwent surgery the same month.

November 6, 2022: Twitter Suspension

On November 6, 2022, Kathy Griffin was suspended from Twitter for impersonating Elon Musk. She used his profile photo and changed her name, tweeting under his name to vote for Democrats and was later reinstated on November 18.