Kathy Griffin Addresses “Fashion Police” Controversy

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The new addition to E!’s Fashion Police, Kathy Griffin talked for the first time about the controversy surrounding her co-host, Giuliana Rancic. Griffin was surprised that the first media scandal surrounding the show since she joined, didn’t involve her. Rancic found herself making a public apology after she joked during their Oscars show that actress Zendaya’s dreadlocks probably smelled like “patchouli oil and weed.”

Kathy Griffin talked to the Chicago Sun-Times and said that it probably wouldn’t have been that big of a deal if she said the joke instead of Rancic. But she added even though jokes come first for her, there has to be strategy. She said, “My approach is ALWAYS to go for the laugh, be as inappropriate as possible, but also change with the times. Comedy requires evolution as much as any business. My goal would be to bring the comedic sensibility of any show I enter or take over into a more modern way of thinking … and laughing. The show wanted to do a running segment called “Whore Score.” Um, no thanks. I think we can do better.”

Kathy thought that Giuliana Rancic’s biggest problem was that she did a line that wasn’t even hers. She said this would be her advice, “Don’t have anyone write you jokes or even suggest jokes for you on “Fashion Police.” You have enough great insider gossip from actually being ON the red carpet. That’s what fans want to hear the next day. Just talk and be yourself.”

After taking over the hosting seat held by the late Joan Rivers, Kathy said she had to deal with angry Fashion Police fans. She said, “Little did I know, after a lot of soul searching and the network begging me to take the position, the overwhelming response to me personally was quite simply, “You’re no Joan Rivers,” “I’ll always miss Joan Rivers,” “You’ll never be able to fill her shoes,” “Who do you think you are trying to be? Joan Rivers?” Well, no shit. Joan Rivers is no longer with us. I miss her far more than any angry tweeter!”

Fashion Police was seen regularly on E!, but since reformatting after Joan Rivers’ death, the series is now limited to award show specials.

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