Kathy Griffin Turned Down Walters' The View Offer

Comedian Kathy Griffin revealed she turned down a $1.4 million offer from Barbara Walters in the mid-2000s to become a permanent co-host on The View, citing personal and financial considerations. At the time, Griffin was earning about $10 million annually from her reality show and touring, and relocating to New York would have meant leaving her elderly parents in Los Angeles. After guest hosting around 27 times, she concluded the offer did not compensate enough for the required changes or align with her family commitments. Griffin clarified to Walters that her choice was not out of a sense of superiority but practicality and loyalty. Walters reportedly did not take the rejection well, but Griffin has expressed continued respect for the show. The story underscores the challenging choices celebrities face between career opportunities and personal obligations.