Kathy Griffin, the Emmy-winning comedian known for her brash humor and ever-changing wigs, was barely recognizable this week as she stepped out near her Malibu home with wild, natural hair and no makeup—an unfiltered look that contrasted starkly with the carefully curated image many associate with her.
Netizens were, to put it bluntly, ruthless. Her appearance drew comparisons to horror movie characters, with one user writing, “We can stop looking for Pennywise,” and another calling her “Kathy the Chucky Doll.”
Highlights
- Kathy Griffin was spotted with wild, natural hair and no makeup, shocking fans used to her polished, wig look.
- Netizens compared Griffin's appearance to horror movie characters like Pennywise and Chucky.
- The comedian remains controversial due to a 2017 scandal involving a bloodied Trump head prop.
“Looking great,” one commenter wrote sarcastically. “I understand you will be available in late October for haunting houses.”
Kathy Griffin was compared to horror movie characters after being photographed without wigs or makeup
Image credits: David Crotty / Getty Images
The 64-year-old was photographed in casual attire: a white T-shirt from her 2018 Laugh Your Head Off World Tour, paired with black pants and sneakers.
Her appearance shocked viewers who have grown accustomed to her usual glam, appearing almost unrecognizable when compared to the camera-ready version her fans saw in a recent video.
Image credits: Robin L Marshall / Getty Images
In the clip, uploaded on June 19, Griffin sat next to one of her famous wigs and opened up about turning down a $1.4 million offer to host The View—the long-running daytime talk show known for its politically charged conversations—refusing to join celebrities such as Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, and others.
For the comedian, the lucrative offer clashed with her demanding tour schedule and responsibilities caring for her aging parents.
Netizens wasted no time in making fun of the comedian, creating memes and cracking jokes at her expense
Image credits: BACKGRID / Vidapress
The news about her career was swiftly overshadowed by conversation around her unfiltered appearance, with comments that ranged from surprise, to outright ageism.
“Women over 55 need to manage their looks before they step outside the house,” a reader wrote.
“That photo startled me. Frightening,” another added.
Image credits: Tylerspsamom
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Adding fuel to the fire were before-and-after comparisons that put pictures of her dolled-up look side-by-side with the recent paparazzi shots.
Image credits: kathygriffin / Instagram
“Ok, so the good news is that even on your roughest day, there is hope,” a viewer said.
“Because if the people in these two photos can be the same person, then there is hope for us all. Props to proper hairstyle, makeup and lighting.”
Image credits: kathygriffin / Instagram
Some tried to sympathize with Griffin, reflecting on the pressures and limits that come with being in the spotlight—where even something as mundane as a casual walk can make them the target of relentless online mockery.
"It’s never a good idea, when you are a celebrity of any sort, to leave the house not looking your best. This is a perfect example,” one user wrote.
“I had no idea she was even relevant anymore. She absolutely looks atrocious…"
The comedian was "cancelled" after recording herself holding a bloodied replica of Donald Trump's severed head
Image credits: Kathy Griffin / YouTube
But beyond comparisons to horror movie characters such as Chucky and Pennywise the Clown, there may be another reason as to why the backlash was so merciless.
Image credits: kathygriffin / Instagram
Griffin, a self-described progressive and longtime critic of conservative figures, has become a lighting rod for controversy in recent years—particularly after a career-defining scandal that managed to alienate many Americans.
In 2017, the comedian filmed herself holding a realistic, bloodied replica of Donald Trump’s sev*r*d head.
Image credits: nrkbeta / Flickr
The image caused outrage not only among those who support the current President, but even among those who hold more neutral views.
The stunt was deemed disturbing, tone-deaf, and offensive—particularly due to its eerie resemblance to propaganda videos from Middle Eastern terro**st groups that defined the later half of the 2010s.
Image credits: kathygriffin / Instagram
The fallout was severe. Griffin lost endorsements, gigs, and was even placed under federal investigation.
Image credits: kathygriffin / Instagram
“I sincerely apologize,” the comedian said in a follow-up video. “I’m a comic, I cross the line. I move the line, then I cross it. I went way too far.”
Those words would be short lived, as she would later retract her apology and go on to reuse the controversial image while promoting her 2019 film, Kathy Griffin: A Hell of a Story.
“I’m no longer sorry. The whole outrage was BS,” she said in an interview with Australian media.
“She blames everyone except for herself. Freedom of speech has consequences,” a user wrote at the time.
"Unrecognizable." Netizens held nothing back in making fun of the comedian
