Kathy Griffin Declines $1.4 Million Offer to Host “The View”

Comedian Kathy Griffin revealed she turned down a lucrative offer to co-host “The View,” citing her desire to maintain stability in her personal life. Despite being offered $1.4 million, she chose not to accept because it would have required uprooting her existing lifestyle and responsibilities.

Griffin recounted that she had numerous discussions with the network over the years about joining the show permanently. However, they continued to audition other candidates while stringing her along. Frustrated, she demanded a definitive offer, telling her agent to ask for a straightforward decision: either make her an official offer or move on.

Ultimately, she received the proposal but explained that her current income from touring and her successful reality show “My Life on the D-List”—which earned her roughly ten million dollars annually—made the move unnecessary. She added that her tight family commitments, especially caring for her parents, also influenced her decision, as relocating would have entailed disrupting her entire life.

Griffin shared that her decision was difficult, especially since she had a close relationship with Barbara Walters, a legendary journalist and former co-host of “The View.” She recalled telling Walters personally that she was declining because of her existing commitments and lifestyle constraints, even offering to show her tax returns to substantiate her earnings.

While Griffin appreciated the offer, she emphasized she chose her current path to preserve her personal stability. Walters reportedly expressed her disapproval, but Griffin explained that the network did not increase their offer despite her clear stance. Walters, who co-hosted the show for nearly 17 years, passed away in 2022 after battling dementia.