Kathy Griffin claims she is banned from Jimmy Fallon’s ‘Tonight Show’

Kathy Griffin claims she’s been effectively banned from Jimmy Fallon’s “Tonight Show” because she’s “too inappropriate or controversial.”

The comedian, 65, said Tuesday that she hasn’t appeared on NBC’s late-night talk show since Fallon became host in 2014, which led her to believe she’s no longer welcome.

“I have not done the Jimmy Fallon show since it was on at 12:30 Eastern and Pacific, so I guess I’m banned from the Fallon show, or inappropriate, or too controversial,” Griffin said in an Instagram video.

“I don’t even know. When you’re banned from a show — and if you guys know me, I’m banned from most of them. You’re welcome, America and Indonesia. They don’t usually tell you you’re banned. They just can’t seem to find room for you.”

Her last appearance on “The Tonight Show” was in 2013 when Jay Leno was host.

Griffin praised Fallon and said that the “Taxi” actor “was always super nice to me” during her appearances while he hosted “Late Night” from 2009 to 2014, but criticized some of his booking decisions since he took over “The Tonight Show.”

“I do think it was a bad call for him to have convicted rapist Conor McGregor on,” she said, referring to the former UFC champion’s appearance on June 16

“I think the 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, and the perpetrators are still going to be out there being glorified.”

She also brought up Fallon’s 2016 interview with Donald Trump, which took place two months before he won the presidency.

“It kind of reminds me of when Fallon had [Donald Trump] on and then he petted [his] hair, or as I call it, bird’s nest. I don’t know, that didn’t sit well with me,” Griffin said.

“I didn’t like when Lorne Michaels had [Trump] host ‘Saturday Night Live.’ I think it’s time we kind of make up our minds about who we’re going to cancel and who we’re not. Take it from the most canceled celebrity in history — look it up. As the kids say, do better.”

Griffin captioned her Instagram post, “Fallon, what kind of message are we sending here?! AND can we PLEASE save canceling people for the ones who actually deserve it?”

The comedian sparked widespread backlash in 2017 after posting a photo of herself holding a fake bloodied severed head resembling then-President Trump. 

At the time, Trump said Griffin “should be ashamed of herself,” while Griffin later said, “I don’t think I will have a career after this … [Trump] broke me. He broke me.”

Earlier this year, Griffin said she stood by the controversial image.

“I absolutely lean into it, because I was right, and I was ahead of my time,” she told WUSF in February.

“And so, when I look at that picture now, I’m very proud of it.”

Griffin has largely stayed out of the spotlight in recent years.

She last starred in FX’s 2021 comedy documentary “Hysterical,” voiced an episode of “Futurama” in 2023, and self-produced her 2025 stand-up special, “My Life on the PTSD List,” which chronicled her lung cancer diagnosis and the fallout from the 2017 Trump photo scandal.

In April, Griffin also acknowledged donating $10,000 to Rep. Eric Swalwell’s unsuccessful campaign for California governor, saying she gave money to Swalwell, who was later accused of sexual assault, because he was a “freaking white, straight guy.”