Kathy Griffin turned heads during a recent stroll near her Malibu, California home. The 64-year-old comedian was spotted embracing a natural look, ditching her signature red bangs in favor of her wild, curly hair. Griffin kept things casual in a white T-shirt from her 2018 “Laugh Your Head Off World Tour” and a pair of black pants while walking alongside a male companion.
The unfiltered moment sparked a frenzy online, with some fans and critics comparing her look to a handful of pop culture icons, for better or worse. One user quipped, “Reminded me of Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein,” while another joked, “We can stop looking for Pennywise.” Others chimed in with comments like, “That photo startled me. Frightening,” and “She could body double for Carrot Top or vice versa.”
But if there’s one thing Griffin has never shied away from, it’s a hair transformation.
In fact, she’s known for them. Back in August 2017, the comedian famously shaved her head in solidarity with her sister Joyce, who was undergoing chemotherapy at the time. Since then, Griffin has leaned into wearing wigs, which she affectionately calls her “magic hair.”
In 2021, she addressed trolls who came after her hair.
“Alright, I’m making this video because I’ve been getting some social media hate because of my curly hair,” the star began in an Instagram video. “A lot of, ‘Girl, you’ve got to get rid of that hair.’ Well, this is how my hair grows out of my head,” she continued.
Kathy Griffin’s natural stroll in Malibu
“I’m a curly-haired, red-headed lady. I’m just asking you to accept me for my curly-haired self.”
The candid Malibu outing was a stark contrast to her glamorous appearance in a June 19 YouTube video, where she shared that she turned down an offer to host “The View” in the mid-2000s. Sitting on her couch in full hair and makeup, the comedian told fans that at the time, she was already making around $10 million a year from touring and her hit Bravo reality series “My Life on the D-List.”
“I had to turn down ‘The View’ because I would have had to uproot my whole life,” Griffin explained, noting that she was also busy caring for her aging parents.
Despite the lucrative offer and frequent guest appearances on the show, Griffin ultimately said no, but made sure to explain her decision directly to the show’s iconic co-host, Barbara Walters. “I want you to know why I’m going to say no. It’s not that I think I’m too good for this show, it’s the opposite: this show is too good for me,” Griffin recalled telling Walters.
Griffin also recently called on the LGBTQ+ community to stay vigilant and politically engaged during Pride Month, amid what she describes as growing threats under Donald Trump’s influence. The outspoken comedian and longtime ally was stopped by paparazzi outside WeHo Bistro, a popular West Hollywood spot, where she urged members of the community to prioritize their safety, stay informed, and take to the streets in protest. “So please protest, protest, protest daily.
Don’t stop,” she said in a video shared by paparazzi. “This administration will stop at nothing to try to take down the LGBTQ+ community.” Griffin expressed deep concern that recent reports of halted funding for LGBTQ+ health research under the Trump administration are only the beginning of more aggressive efforts to marginalize queer and trans individuals in the U.S.
