Kathy Griffin Declares She’s “Not Canceled” After Controversial Image

Comedian Kathy Griffin recently stated she feels “not canceled” during an interview with a local NPR station, WUSF. In this chat, she referenced a controversial image she shared in the past—one featuring a bloody, decapitated head that looked like former President Donald Trump.

In her discussion at WUSF, Griffin reflected on the significant backlash that impacted her career, noting it seems the audience is now ready to welcome her back into the fold.

The controversy erupted in 2017 when Griffin shared a photo holding a fake bloody Halloween mask resembling Trump. This act drew immediate condemnation from lawmakers across the political spectrum, who accused her of encouraging violence against public figures.

“Oh, I think the cancellation has been lifted. This is a miracle for me, because I never thought it would be lifted,” Griffin noted in the interview.

She mentioned how special it was to return to Tampa, a city she hadn’t performed in for quite some time, especially now that her show wasn’t canceled.

Initially, Griffin expressed regret over the image, but she later took back her apology, asserting she doesn’t regret sharing it at all. “People still define me by that. Now I really own it and absolutely lean into it, because I was right and I was ahead of my time,” she said, expressing pride in the documented moment.

She also recounted how Trump acted “as if he was scared of me” prior to the infamous photo, saying he would often hold up four fingers in a superstitious gesture around her.

Griffin is set to launch her “New Faces New Tour” in Orlando soon, and she mentioned that the audience even gave her a standing ovation before she began her performance.