Kathy Griffin Claims She's Blacklisted from Jimmy Fallon's Show for Being 'Too Controversial'

Kathy Griffin believes she’s been blacklisted from The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, claiming her controversial persona has led to her exclusion.

“I have not done the Jimmy Fallon show since it was on at 12:30 Eastern and Pacific [time],” Griffin stated in a video posted on June 30. “I guess I’m banned from the Fallon show [for being] inappropriate or too controversial. I don’t even know. When you’re banned from a show… they don’t usually tell you [that] you’re banned. They just can’t seem to find room for you.”

Griffin alleges she’s also been barred from other talk shows but insists she holds no ill will towards Fallon, who is 51 years old. “I like Jimmy Fallon. I’ve met him a few times, and when I used to do his later show, he was always super nice to me,” she remarked. “I do think it was a bad call for him to have convicted rapist Conor McGregor on.”

Conor McGregor, 37, faced accusations of sexual assault in 2023, which he denied, labeling the claims as “false.”

Griffin criticized the decision to feature McGregor, stating, “I think Fallon folks made a mistake by having Conor McGregor on. I think it sends yet another message to women and marginalized folks everywhere that we’re not equal and you can do anything to us.”

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She drew parallels between McGregor's appearance and Donald Trump's past guest spot, recalling, “It kind of reminds me of when Fallon had [President Donald] Trump on, and then he petted his hair. That didn’t sit well with me.”

Griffin urged for a reevaluation of who gets canceled in the industry, declaring, “Take it from the most canceled celebrity in history! … As the kids say, do better.”

Known for her provocative style, Griffin has faced backlash multiple times throughout her career.

“I’m so used to being a bit of a rebel outsider in Hollywood,” she told an outlet in 2025. “They gave me an award, and it’s about resilience. I’m laughing because now I’m the face of resilience because I’ve been through so much s*** that it’s crazy. … I may not be your favorite comic, but I’ve done more specials than any other comedian, male or female, living or dead, and damn it, that’s something.”

Griffin claims adversity only fuels her determination. “I’m going to say double down,” she advised others facing similar challenges. “The only thing I regret out of that whole experience was apologizing.”