Kathy Griffin Wears Donald Trump Mask in Comeback Performance

She was fired from CNN this May after a photo of her holding Trump's fake severed head was released.

October 9, 2017 11:19 am
Comedian Kathy Griffin.
Comedian Kathy Griffin poses for a portrait at The Wrap studios on March 7, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)

Kathy Griffin is back, and she’s wearing a Donald Trump mask. Despite being fired from CNN following the publication of a questionable image taken by photographer Tyler Shields of her holding the faux severed head of President Donald Trump, Griffin made a return to comedy Sunday night in Los Angeles.

According to The Hollywood ReporterGriffin was the opening act for the annual Aid for AIDS fundraiser Best in Drag Show. She walked onto the stage wearing the same style dress she wore when the photo with the faux head was taken. She also had on a Trump mask, a giant pussy bow tied around her neck, and both middle fingers raised, The Hollywood Reporter writes.

Griffin has been a beloved performer and devoted supporter of this event for two decades or so, writes The Hollywood Reporter and the audience clearly still likes her.

She took the mask off within a few seconds, but she did not spend too much time talking about Trump after that. She instead talked about the many “deplorables” who she said sent death threats and hate mail after the faux head photo went viral in May. She discusses what she went through since then, saying she was under federal investigation for two months, her sister died, and her mom agreed with Fox News host Sean Hannity, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Even Billy Bush wrote her a letter, she said, but while on stage, she said she doesn’t want to be in his club.

She also doesn’t want to be in Hollywood’s film club either and spoke freely about Harvey Weinstein. The New York Times recently released a piece detailing three decades of sexual harassment allegations towards Weinstein.

“That guy seems to be what’s called a rapist. I’m using it as a broad term. There’s a lot of them and they are everywhere. So it’s time we started to fucking look out for each other because this shit has been going on for way too long,” she said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 

She was met with loud applause. She ended by talking about a letter someone sent her and Anderson Cooper, essentially yelling at Anderson for not backing Griffin after she backed him up all those years ago, writes The Hollywood Reporter.

Griffin will kick off her international comedy tour later this month.

The InsideHook Newsletter.

News, advice and insights for the most interesting person in the room.