Kathy Griffin called Ellen DeGeneres a ‘f***ing untalented hack’
Kathy Griffin is well-known for her controversial remarks. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Comedian Kathy Griffin has revealed she once called Ellen DeGeneres a “f***ing untalented hack” during a row.
Griffin was speaking at her sold-out set in Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles, on Thursday night (July 19), when she recalled an argument she had with DeGeneres following the death of comedian and actor Joan Rivers in 2014, reports Variety.
“One of the things that really hurt Joan, and we talked about it at our last meal together, was that Ellen always shunned her and Ellen thought she was vulgar and not funny,” Griffin said.
“I just called her and I just said, ‘Look, woman to woman, comic to comic, I think you need to let go of your hatred for Joan Rivers. She’s passed away, just do a f***ing tribute, be cool.”
According to Griffin, DeGeneres responded by saying “there’s a difference between mean and funny,” adding that Rivers was the latter.
“That f***ing set me off,” Griffin continued. “So we had a fight in which I used inflammatory words like, ‘Look you f***ing untalented hack.’ You know when you’re fighting with someone and you can kind of laugh at a point? Yeah, not that day.”
Griffin has a longstanding feud with DeGeneres, which she previously told US Weekly dates as far back as 2007.
In her 2016 book Celebrity Run-Ins: My A-Z Index, Griffin hit-out at DeGeneres.
Griffin has been feuding with DeGeneres for years. (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
In the book, she writes: “I’m almost positive a certain beloved daytime talk show host once had me kicked out of a backstage dressing room at the Emmy Awards.
“I can’t prove it, but this person, who has short blonde hair, has a mean streak that all of Hollywood knows about.”
Following the release of her book, Griffin said that she and DeGeneres had had an argument over the phone.
DeGeneres was reportedly fuming after Griffin criticised her in her book. (Getty)
“She was furious,” Griffin said to Access Hollywood.
“She was really on a rant… ‘I don’t have to have anyone on my show I don’t want,’” Griffin said, adding that DeGeneres shouted down the phone.
“After the phone call I literally started sobbing,” Griffin said.
“At the end of the day, whether we like each other or not, I’m always going to support a woman, over fifty, in the game, and making a great living.”
