Kathy Griffin is questioning why she hasn’t been back on The Tonight Show in more than a decade. The comedian recently suggested she’s effectively been shut out of Jimmy Fallon’s NBC late-night show while criticizing the program’s decision to host former UFC champion Conor McGregor.
Griffin’s comments come as she continues to speak candidly about cancel culture and the fallout from her own controversies. This time, however, her focus was on who gets welcomed onto television and who doesn’t.
Kathy Griffin says she has not been invited back to Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show in several years
In a video shared to Instagram, Griffin claimed she hasn’t appeared on The Tonight Show since Jay Leno was still behind the desk in 2013.
“I have not done the Jimmy Fallon show since it was on at 12:30 Eastern and Pacific, so I guess I’m banned from the Fallon show, or inappropriate, or too controversial,” Griffin said in the video. She added, “When you’re banned from a show… they don’t usually tell you, you’re banned. They just can’t seem to find room for you.”
Despite her comments, Griffin made it clear she has no personal issue with Fallon himself. She said the host “was always super nice to me” during her appearances on Late Night, but took issue with the show’s decision to invite Conor McGregor, who appeared on The Tonight Show on June 16 to promote his UFC return.
“I think the Fallon folks made a mistake by having Conor McGregor on,” Griffin said. “I think it sends yet another message to women and marginalized folks everywhere that we’re not equal and you can do anything to us, and the perpetrators are still going to be out there being glorified.”
Griffin also referenced Fallon’s widely discussed 2016 interview with Donald Trump, during which Fallon playfully tousled the future president’s hair. “It kind of reminds me of when Fallon had Donald Trump on, and then he petted his hair,” Griffin said. “I didn’t like when Lorne Michaels had Trump host Saturday Night Live. I think it’s time we kind of make up our minds about who we’re going to cancel and who we’re not.”
NBC has not commented on Griffin’s claims, while sources familiar with the situation told the outlet her assertion that she had been “banned” was exaggerated.
Griffin, who has frequently joked about being “canceled” following her controversial 2017 Trump photo, ended her social media post by urging, “Fallon, what kind of message are we sending here?! AND can we PLEASE save canceling people for the ones who actually deserve it?”
TELL US – DO YOU THINK KATHY GRIFFIN HAS A POINT ABOUT WHO GETS PLATFORMED ON LATE-NIGHT TV?
