Comic Kathy Griffin announced tonight that she has resigned from her position as host of “Fashion Police.” The resignation came after filming seven episodes and follows Kelly Osborne’s announcement earlier this month that she was leaving the show.
Griffin was chosen to replace Joan Rivers after the comic’s death in September. In her statement, Griffin implied there were conflicts between her and the show’s writers:
On Twitter, she wrote, “I’m a feminist AND a Gurrrrl who loves an offensive joke or a well-timed barb and you will find plenty in my repertoire. But I do not want to use my comedy to contribute to a culture of unattainable perfectionism and intolerance towards difference.”
In an interview with Sun Times published two days ago, Griffin foreshadowed her decision to step down when she criticized the show’s unwillingness to change, stating, “Comedy requires evolution as much as any business. My goal would be to bring the comedic sensibility of any show I enter or take over into a more modern way of thinking … and laughing. The show wanted to do a running segment called ‘Whore Score.’ Um, no thanks. I think we can do better.”
In the same interview, Griffin said she advised Fashion Police team member Guiliana Rancic, who was under fire over a controversial comment made about actress Zendaya’s hair during the Oscar’s, not to allow anyone to write jokes for her. Griffin also said that after she was chosen for the role she was surprised by the amount of push back she received on the announcement from Rivers’ fan base.
Replacing Rivers was not an easy task The world of true fashion lovers is small, as such the show can’t exist without a host with an already established following. Griffin was a good choice because of her reputation for commenting on pop culture and her big fan base. Griffin rightly wanted to modernize the show’s humor. However large River’s fame may have been, her jokes, which were largely cracks about women’s bodies and sexual reputations, came across not just as mean but hopelessly dated. Truly because of a certain gravity she has won because of longevity only she could get away with making them. Griffin’s statement implies that one of the show’s biggest challenges should it continue is not only finding a popular host but also updating the writing staff and putting aside the notion that Rivers can be replaced. She not only can’t be replaced but shouldn’t be.
Griffin’s statement reads as follows:
“Let me introduce myself. Hi, my name is Kathy Griffin. I’m 54, have written and starred in 23 stand-up comedy specials, I have two EMMYS, a Grammy, a NYTimes #1 Bestseller, decades of activism for the #LGBT community, have performed for the troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, among many other things. When I chose to step into the shoes of my beloved friend Joan Rivers at Fashion Police, I was thrilled to continue her legacy as a woman being brash and eccentric on television. I am a freedom-loving female and gay rights activist who loves to find the funny in all people, attitudes, beliefs, and appearances, but only when the context permits intelligent humor. I thought that I could bring my brand of humor to Fashion Police so that beautiful people in beautiful dresses could be teased when appropriate. My brand of humor, while unrepentant and unafraid, is all about CONTEXT. There is plenty to make fun of in pop culture without bringing people’s bodies into it. Again people…context! Listen, I’m no saint — I’m a feminist AND a Gurrrrl who loves an offensive joke or a well-timed barb and you will find plenty in my repertoire. But I do not want to use my comedy to contribute to a culture of unattainable perfectionism and intolerance towards difference. I want to help women, gay kids, people of color and anyone who feels underrepresented to have a voice and a LAUGH! That has been my platform for decades and my body of work speaks for itself. After 7 epodes of Fashion Police, I discovered that my style does not fit with the creative direction of the show & now it’s time to move on. I wish E! and the E! only the best and I hope to continue to make you all laugh performing live or on television where I can be smart, irreverent, unrepentant and unafraid in an observational way that is candid, honest and justified. Thank you to my fans for taking the ride with me. See you at the gay bars…and the MF-ing KENNEDY CENTER Saturday, June 20 and everywhere else! Tickets on sale at KathyGriffin.com. How’s that for #unapologetic?”
