Kathy Griffin claims she was banned from The Tonight Show
Kathy Griffin claims she has been effectively banned from The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon for being too controversial, and she slammed Jimmy Fallon for hosting UFC legend Conor McGregor after a 2024 civil liability verdict. A representative for the NBC late-night program told Variety that assertion is entirely false. The comedian aired her frustrations in an Instagram video posted Tuesday, reviving debate over who gets a late-night platform and who does not.
Key Takeaways
- Griffin said on Instagram Tuesday that she believes she is barred from Fallon's Tonight Show because she is too controversial.
- She criticized Fallon's June 16 booking of Conor McGregor, who was found liable in a 2024 sexual assault case.
- A Tonight Show representative told Variety Griffin's ban claim is entirely false.
- Fallon's team did not immediately respond to Variety's request for comment on Griffin's remarks.
- Griffin promoted her YouTube series Kathy Griffin: Talk Your Head Off in the post's caption.
What did Kathy Griffin claim on Instagram?
In a video shared Tuesday on Instagram, Kathy Griffin claims she has not appeared on Fallon's Tonight Show since the program aired at 12:30 a.m. ET/PT. "I guess I'm banned from the Fallon show, or inappropriate, or too controversial," she said. Griffin added that shows rarely announce a ban outright: "They just can't seem to find room for you."
She also joked that she is banned from most late-night programs, telling viewers, "You're welcome, America and Indonesia." The post framed her absence as part of a broader pattern rather than a routine scheduling gap.
Why is Kathy Griffin criticizing Jimmy Fallon's Conor McGregor interview?
Griffin saved her sharpest criticism for Fallon's decision to host McGregor on the June 16 episode. The UFC fighter appeared to promote his comeback bout against Max Holloway. An Irish court found McGregor civilly liable for sexual assault in 2024 and ordered him to pay $257,000 to a woman who accused him of rape.
"I do think it was a bad call for him to have convicted rapist Conor McGregor on," Griffin said. She argued the booking "sends yet another message to women and marginalized folks everywhere that we're not equal and you can do anything to us, and the perpetrators are still going to be out there being glorified." Representatives for The Tonight Show declined to comment to Variety on those McGregor-related remarks.
How did The Tonight Show respond to the ban allegation?
When Variety reached out, a representative for The Tonight Show pushed back. The spokesperson said Griffin's claims were entirely false. A rep for Fallon did not immediately respond to the outlet's request for comment.
The dispute lands amid wider scrutiny of late-night booking decisions. For more on similar clashes between comedians and talk-show stages, see our Streaming & TV Alerts coverage.
What did Griffin say in her Instagram caption?
Beyond the on-camera remarks, Griffin's caption asked, "Fallon, what kind of message are we sending here?!" She also wrote, "AND can we PLEASE save canceling people for the ones who actually deserve it?" Griffin used the moment to promote the latest episode of her YouTube show, Kathy Griffin: Talk Your Head Off, which was available at the time of her post.