Comedian Kathy Griffin revealed on her podcast that she was "really hurt" by not being invited as a guest during Rosie O'Donnell's week of guest hosting "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"
Griffin, who hosts the podcast "Talk Your Head Off," described the situation as personal and embarrassing. She stated that she considers O'Donnell a close friend, comparing their relationship to sisters. Griffin expressed confusion, noting her friendship with both O'Donnell and Jimmy Kimmel, and highlighted that O'Donnell's guest hosting stint was intended as a "special treat to Donald Trump," whom O'Donnell has frequently criticized.
"I'm just going to come out and say it, are you ready?" Griffin said on her podcast. "It's embarrassing to say, but I have to tell you guys because we're friends. My feelings are really hurt that I was not invited to go on Rosie's week of the Jimmy Kimmel show."
O'Donnell began guest hosting "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on a Monday and was scheduled to continue through Thursday. Griffin recalled a conversation with O'Donnell on a recent flight, during which she mentioned her desire to be a guest on the show. Griffin pointed out the shared experience between herself and O'Donnell, both having faced public scrutiny and criticism related to their outspokenness, particularly concerning Donald Trump.
Griffin referenced the controversy in 2017 when she posted a photo of herself holding a blood-covered mask resembling Trump's face, an act that drew widespread condemnation. She stated that she expected support from her community, including Hollywood and the stand-up comedy scene, but experienced the opposite. Griffin also mentioned that O'Donnell had recently made comments on a podcast, "The Tangle" with Kyle Ridley, that were not supportive of her decision to post the Trump head photo.
O'Donnell responded to Griffin's comments on Instagram, stating, "Kathy — shoulda called me honey — I didn’t choose the guests…". Griffin acknowledged that O'Donnell might not have had control over guest bookings, despite being the guest host. She encouraged continued support for O'Donnell and viewership of Kimmel's show.
During her monologues on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," O'Donnell has focused on criticizing Donald Trump, referring to him with various nicknames. Kimmel's show did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding Griffin's remarks.