On Thursday, Kathy Griffin announced in a statement via Twitter that she’s leaving E!’s “Fashion Police.”
The 54-year-old comedian, who joined the show following the death of Joan Rivers, wrote:
“After 7 episodes of ‘Fashion Police,’ I have discovered my style does not fit with the creative direction of the show and now it’s time to move on.”
Reps for E! confirmed Griffin’s departure from the show to HuffPost Entertainment in a statement:
We can confirm that Kathy Griffin is leaving E!’s “Fashion Police.” We wish her all the best and are grateful for her time on the show, as well as the many laughs that she gave us all. “Fashion Police” will return, as scheduled, on Monday, March 30 at 9pm with our talented Co-Hosts Giuliana Rancic and Brad Goreski and Executive Producer Melissa Rivers. No further information is available at this time.
Griffin’s exit comes just weeks after fellow co-host Kelly Osbourne left the show in the midst of drama surrounding Giuliana Rancic’s offensive remarks about actress Zendaya’s dreadlocks during a post-Oscars episode of “Fashion Police.” On the show, Rancic said Zendaya’s dreadlocks made her look as if she smelled “like patchouli oil” or “weed.”
On Tuesday, Griffin finally addressed the controversy, telling the Chicago Sun Times’ Splash magazine that, while she doubted there would have been as much backlash had the joke come from her instead of Rancic, she wouldn’t have said it to begin with.
“I wouldn’t have said the joke in the first place. Some dude wrote it for her,” she told the magazine.
Read Griffin’s full statement below:
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) March 13, 2015
UPDATE: According to an email obtained by BuzzFeed, Griffin asked a number of undisclosed recipients for their support on Twitter:
Date: March 12, 2015
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: I Need You!
Here’s why I need you…
I went live with the following statement on my social media platforms this evening. I’m reaching out to you because I think you will understand why I have made this decision and I am asking for your support via Twitter, etc. IF you are comfortable. I admire you & your work and hope that you can stand by me. Once again, IF you are comfortable. Oh, and I am nervous and scared about this…in case you’re wondering 😉Thanks!
XXOO,
Kathy Griffin
The email appears to have worked, (assuming they were among those who received it) as Lena Dunham, Whoopi Goldberg, Allison Janney, Kat Dennings, Mindy Kaling, Jane Lynch, and Kelly Osbourne all tweeted their support for Griffin’s decision to leave the show.
