Stand-up comedian Kathy Griffin has candidly revealed she "accidentally" fell in love with a 23-year-old man following the breakdown of her second marriage, embracing a relationship with a 42-year age gap.
A Surprising Connection After Divorce
In a personal essay published for The Cut on Wednesday, the 65-year-old entertainer explained that this unexpected romance blossomed shortly after she divorced her husband, Randy Bick. Griffin filed for divorce from Bick, who is 47, in December 2023, just days before what would have been their fourth wedding anniversary, citing "irreconcilable differences".
Reflecting on her connection with the younger man, Griffin wrote that she found a quality in him that was often missing with men her own age. "I accidentally fell in love with a 23-year-old. Because of his age, he didn't have the usual sexism, misogyny, and biases that guys my age tend to have," she stated.
Embracing the 'Cougar' Label
Griffin addressed the public perception of her dating preferences head-on, openly accepting the "cougar" label. She revealed that she hasn't been with a man her own age since her thirties and is consistently asked out by younger men.
"I kind of am a cougar, which to me just means you have the freedom to choose the person that you want as opposed to the age bracket that society tells you is the only option for you," Griffin asserted. She humorously added, "And they're the ones who asked me out! I put 64 on my profile... What am I gonna do? I can't let this bangin' body go to waste."
The comedian also shared that she maintains an active dating life, using four different dating apps and even carrying a "party pack" of condoms. "And at my age, there's not a lot of reasons to say no," she remarked.
A Fleeting But Meaningful Romance
Despite the profound connection, Griffin admitted she knew the relationship with the man in his twenties was not built to last long-term, partly due to her own "baggage." Nevertheless, she cherished the experience.
"It was nice to know that my heart could still feel like that in my 60s," she confessed. "He made me feel sexy and special and smart and funny. It had a lot of the elements of what I think would've made a real, lasting relationship." She described their parting as "setting that dove free."
This revelation follows her divorce from Bick, which sources attributed to the pair "growing apart," with Bick reportedly becoming more of a "homebody." Griffin's first marriage was to actor Matt Moline, lasting from 2001 to 2006.
