Kathy Griffin Left Unable to Speak After Vocal Cord Surgery
A recent surgery has left controversial comedian Kathy Griffin unable to speak.
In a photo shared on her Instagram account on Wednesday, the 63-year-old revealed she had undergone surgery on her vocal cords.
“Vocal cord surgery went well,” Griffin wrote. “As you can see, some scarring and swelling. It will be worth it if I get some of my voice back.”
In an earlier post, Griffin explained she had chosen the surgery to address complications from a previous lung cancer surgery.
According to Entertainment Tonight, Griffin was diagnosed with cancer in August 2021, but she announced later that year that she was cancer-free.
The previous surgery, which involved removing half of Griffin’s left lung, had left her left vocal cord “permanently paralyzed,” she shared.
This recent procedure involved inserting an implant into the damaged vocal cord.
Griffin mentioned that she will be unable to talk for two weeks following the surgery.
“So, anyway, I’m never nervous before surgery and I’ve had quite a few. But I am a little nervous about this one ’cause it’s my voice and I’ve already gone through it once with the voice problem,” Griffin said on Instagram.
“Anyway, wish me luck, and I can’t talk at all for two weeks, which is going to drive me crazy. So I’ll be watching a lot of TikTok, and I won’t be making any.”
Griffin, known for her progressive views, has frequently made headlines for her political actions.
In 2017, she apologized after sharing a photo of herself holding a fake, decapitated head resembling President Donald Trump.
In late 2023, Griffin and other celebrities hosted a “salon” for controversial transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney.
The event was also attended by musician Sia, comedian Rosie O’Donnell, actress Margaret Cho, and left-wing journalist Taylor Lorenz.