Comedian Kathy Griffin has revealed that she lost nearly a third of her fan base following a highly controversial photo shoot in 2017.
According to Breitbart News, the poignant image depicting Griffin holding a bloodied effigy resembling former President Donald Trump sparked widespread outrage and backlash, permanently alienating a significant portion of her audience.
Griffin's ordeal began in May 2017 when TMZ made public the contentious photograph taken by Tyler Shields. The backlash was instantaneous and severe, marking a pivotal turn in her career.
For years, Griffin was celebrated for her acerbic wit and candid humor, often directed at celebrities and Hollywood culture—a style that resonated particularly well with her Southern audience.
According to Griffin, the fallout from the photo shoot was not just professional but deeply personal. She has spoken candidly in various interviews about the profound effects the incident had on her life and work.
On Dan Le Batard’s podcast “South Beach Offensive,” she illuminated the long-term consequences she faced, highlighting the loss of her audience and the shift in her fan base’s demographics.
After the incident, Griffin noticed a change in her audience. She gained followers who were more politically inclined and liberal, but she profoundly missed the connection she once had with her Southern fans.
I think I've gained some audiences that are maybe a little bit more political, maybe a little bit more liberal, but I used to play the South like crazy because they knew me as somebody that would make fun of Hollywood and the Kardashians and celebrities.
Amid her continuing battle with stress and PTSD, Griffin has adopted a unique therapeutic routine involving yoga. This regimen not only helps manage her anxiety but also includes rather unconventional practices.
Kathy Griffin explained her therapeutic process in detail during a recent interview with 'Vulture'. She incorporates animal sounds into her yoga poses, a method that, despite feeling initially absurd to her, has been essential in managing her mental health.
Kathy Griffin described her unconventional yoga routine:
It’s when I get on all fours like a kitty cat and then I arch my back and I am instructed by my teacher to say the word meow. I feel like a fool, but I do it. And then I un-arch my back and — wait for it — I ‘moo’ like a cow.
Additionally, Griffin spoke about the severity of her PTSD, which sometimes triggers severe physical reactions. The comedian revealed, "PTSD is a bitch, and when I get PTSD attacks, I can’t stop vomiting. So if I have to meow like a kitty cat and moo like a cow, I’m gonna do it."
Despite the years since the photo incident, the repercussions continue reverberating through Griffin's career and personal life. Her struggle underscores the lasting impact of public controversies on celebrities' mental health and professional trajectories.
