Kathy Griffin has accused Stephen Colbert of ambushing her during a 2018 appearance on “The Late Show.” In an interview that happened about 18 months after the controversial photo of her holding a fake bloody head resembling President Donald Trump, she recalled that Colbert, who had previously requested not to discuss Trump, turned the conversation back to the topic just before she went on stage.
Despite her efforts to change the subject, Griffin found herself repeatedly faced with a photo of Trump, which she felt turned the experience into an unexpected confrontation.
She expressed her disappointment, stating, “It was like, ‘Wow, he was far more prejudiced than I had imagined.’” Griffin mentioned that during the interview, she fought back tears to shield her emotional pain from the audience. “It was really an ambush, caught up in misogyny,” she added, suggesting that Colbert used his platform to target those she deemed as “D-list” celebrities.
While she once held Colbert in high regard, Griffin admitted that the interview changed her perception dramatically, saying, “I have a very low opinion of Stephen Colbert now.”
Griffin recounted feelings of being misrepresented, noting that some in the public believed she was akin to a member of ISIS, which she attributed to the backlash surrounding that photo. She defended her artistic expression against Colbert’s criticism, who argued there are limits to what can be said about a sitting president without causing harm.
Ultimately, this experience has left a mark on her respect for Colbert, turning admiration into disappointment, especially as it relates to how comedic platforms might treat controversial topics.
