Kathy Griffin has quit Fashion Police after just seven episodes. The Emmy Award-winning comedienne made the announcement on her Twitter page in a lengthy and "unapologetic" post in which she shared her reasons for leaving the E! show. "I thought that I could bring my brand of humour to Fashion Police so beautiful people in beautiful dresses could be teased when appropriate," said Kathy, who took over as host of the show following the death of her friend Joan Rivers in September.
Kathy Griffin has quit Fashion Police after just seven episodes
"I do not want to use my comedy to contribute to a culture of unattainable perfectionism and intolerance towards difference. I want to help women, gay kids, people of colour, and anyone who feels underrepresented to have a voice and a LAUGH. That has been my platform for decades and my body of work speaks for itself." She continued, "After 7 episodes of Fashion Police, I discovered that my style does not fit with the creative direction of the show & now it's time to move on."
Kathy shared her reasons for leaving with her fans in a Twitter post
Kathy is the second Fashion Police host to leave the show in two week; Kelly Osbourne announced her departure on 27 February, stating she was stepping down to "pursue other opportunities". Shortly after Kathy's announcement, Kelly posted a message on Twitter that read: "I could not be more proud of you @kathygriffin you have my love and support always." Fashion Police has never come under more scrutiny in its five year history than it has in the last two months, thanks largely to an offensive comment made by Giuliana Rancic about Zendaya's Oscars red carpet look.
The Fashion Police: Kathy Griffin, Brad Goreski, Giuliana Rancic and Kelly Osbourne
Giuliana has apologised twice – on Twitter and then on air – for making the remark, but it continues to be a big talking point. It is also rumoured to be the reason Kelly decided to leave the show, and on Wednesday Kathy herself told the Chicago Sun Times that she "wouldn't have said the joke in the first place". Confirming Kathy's exit in a statement, E! said: "We wish her all the best and are grateful for her time on the show, as well as the many laughs she gave us. 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."