Kathy Griffin reveals she said ‘no’ to permanent ‘View’ co-host chair despite $1.4 million offer

Comedian Kathy Griffin recently revealed that she turned down a $1.4 million offer to become a permanent co-host on The View in the mid-2000s. In a YouTube video shared on June 17, Griffin opened up about her decision to reject the opportunity, which reportedly didn’t sit well with the late Barbara Walters.

According to People, before receiving the permanent position offer, Griffin had appeared as a guest co-host on The View approximately 27 times. During these appearances, she would regularly fly from Los Angeles to New York, and while she received payment for her appearances, she had to cover additional expenses such as wardrobe, hair, and makeup.

Griffin explained to Walters her reasoning for declining the offer, saying, “I want you to know why I’m going to say no. It’s not that I think I’m too good for this show, it’s the opposite: this show is too good for me.” She even offered to show Walters her tax returns to prove her financial situation.

Financial and personal reasons behind the decision

The comedian disclosed that at the time, she was earning approximately $10 million annually through her reality show My Life on the D-List and her touring career. The $1.4 million offer from ‘The View’ would have meant a significant pay cut for her.

Additionally, Griffin cited personal reasons for her decision, explaining that accepting the role would have required her to uproot her entire life in Los Angeles. She mentioned having responsibilities to care for her parents and owning a house in Los Angeles, making the move to New York unfeasible.

When Griffin attempted to negotiate the offer, asking if they could meet halfway, the show’s management didn’t increase their offer. According to Griffin, Walters “did not like that one bit” when she explained her decision to decline the position.

Despite turning down the opportunity, Griffin expressed her respect for ‘The View’ and its hosts. She acknowledged the show’s continued influence, noting that it remains “one of the most buzzworthy shows on television” where people still get “up in arms online talking about who said what.” She also recalled an interesting interaction with Walters, who once told her backstage that while others claimed they had chemistry, she didn’t see it herself.