Comedian Kathy Griffin said in an interview that aired Friday on “Rising” that the backlash over a photo of her holding a fake severed head resembling President Trump was ultimately “worth it” because it opened doors for her on the international stage.
“Yes, it was worth it,” Griffin told Hill.TV’s Jamal Simmons.
“Believe it or not, the picture that almost took me down is the picture that allowed me to tour globally for the first time,” she continued.
“I mean, I played Reykjavik, Iceland. I sold out the Sydney Opera House. I sold out the London Palladium. I played Helsinki, of all places,” she said.
The comedian received widespread criticism last year after she posted the graphic photo on Twitter.
She had multiple shows canceled during the fallout and was fired from her position as a co-host of CNN’s New Year’s Eve coverage.
Griffin said that her style was, however, welcomed overseas because many foreign audiences are more used to provocative comedy.
“I went everywhere. So now I’m known as the crazy red-haired lady who took that picture … and believe it or not, at first America was in shock and awe, but overseas, they’re used to that imagery with Der Spiegel, Charlie Hebdo,” she said, referring to German and French publications, respectively.
Griffin led the “Kremlin Annex” protest against Trump in front of the White House on Thursday and will perform at Constitution Hall in Washington on Saturday.
— Julia Manchester
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