Kathy Griffin recently shared her feelings about a challenging interview she had with Stephen Colbert on "The Late Show" in December 2018. This interview came about 18 months after Griffin sparked controversy by posing with a prop that resembled a bloodied, decapitated head of then-President Donald Trump. In a video on her YouTube channel titled “Stephen Colbert made me cry!”, Griffin described the experience as a "bulls– ambush."
When Griffin was invited to appear on the show, she specifically requested that Colbert avoid discussing the Trump photo, as she was exhausted from the backlash. A producer initially agreed, but just before she went on stage, Griffin was informed that Colbert planned to address the topic. Feeling cornered, she attempted to steer the conversation away from it, but Colbert persisted with probing questions, which Griffin likened to being interrogated on "60 Minutes."
Griffin expressed her surprise at Colbert’s intense questioning, noting that it revealed a bias against her and her right to express herself through art. She fought back tears during the interview, trying to maintain her composure in front of the audience. Griffin accused Colbert of using his platform to belittle her, a "D-list" celebrity, and suggested that he would not have treated a male comedian in the same way.
Reflecting on the incident, Griffin admitted that she used to hold Colbert in high regard, but the experience changed her opinion of him significantly. She stated, “I have such a low opinion of Stephen Colbert right now,” and added a harsh remark about his character.
During their conversation, Colbert spent a significant amount of time asking Griffin about the infamous photo and the fallout from it. Griffin recounted how the backlash affected her career and led to a federal investigation. She defended her right to take the photo, invoking the First Amendment, while Colbert argued that there are limits to what can be said about the President, particularly regarding threats of harm.
Griffin clarified that the prop was not meant to represent a severed head but was a Halloween mask with ketchup. Colbert countered that it looked like a severed head, emphasizing the visual impact of the photograph.
The interview remains a point of contention for Griffin, highlighting the complexities of celebrity, political expression, and the media’s role in shaping public perception.