Comedian Kathy Griffin, who landed in a major controversy for sharing a photo that showed her holding a fake decapitated head resembling Donald Trump, says she suddenly became an anathema and no one was willing to extend a lifeline to her.
The controversy in May last year led to a two-month federal investigation and cancellation of various gigs and hosting jobs for Griffin, who first said sorry but then backtracked her apology.
Addressing the lack of support for her, Griffin told Howard Stern that while people called her privately, they were not ready to do the same publicly.
"Nobody wanted to hear a word from me. I was anathema to everything and everyone," Griffin, who is making a comeback with "The President Show", said.
The comedian does the impression of counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway in the show.
"I think what has been the worst is the fact that no one, until The President Show, no one lifted a finger. People would call me and be supportive and then they'd say, 'Can you not say publicly that I called you?' Lots of people. 'I'm being really supportive, don't ever say I called you.' I reached out to a few people where the subject line was, 'Where the f have you been?' And people got defensive. I thought, okay, I'm on my own here."
"I needed someone to lift a finger. I needed a big showrunner or somebody to go, 'I'm going to give you 10 pages in a movie, I'm going to put you on SNL for one skit,' and it would have all gone away. There were so many people that could've just done one little thing that would have made this like 50 percent less, and they just wouldn't."
Griffin said she found more support from male comics than female ones and the people who reached out to her included Katt Williams, Bette Midler, Aubrey Plaza, Jamie Foxx, and Jim Carrey.
"I got a call from Jim Carrey, who I don't really know that well. He said, 'Kathy, do you know how many comedians would give their right arm for this story? You are the most famous comedian in the world today. Use it.' I was crying on the phone with Jim. Jim, it's over for me!' Jim said, 'Don't apologize lean in, use it'.
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