Kathy Griffin Calls Out Joe Rogan's Influence on Comedy's 'Hacks'

Kathy Griffin isn't staying quiet. The two-time Emmy-winning comedian stepped into the ongoing conversation about Saturday Night Live host Shane Gillis and his polarizing monologue — and she had quite a bit to say about the wider comedy world while she was at it.

Griffin Fires Back at Gillis's SNL Set

Following Gillis's third time helming SNL, viewers flooded social media with criticism over a portion of his monologue in which he referred to women who wear shorts at the gym as "whores." The backlash was swift and loud, and Griffin made clear she had thoughts of her own. Speaking to Page Six, as originally reported by Deadline, she struck a careful but pointed balance: defending Gillis's legal right to make the joke while making no secret of her personal distaste for it.

"I think as a comic I'm always going to fight for the First Amendment and his right to say it, and yet I don't have to like it," Griffin said. "So, I defend his right to say it, and I also defend everyone else's right to think less of him."

It's a nuanced position — one that acknowledges creative freedom while refusing to shield a fellow comedian from public accountability. And Griffin wasn't done there.

A Broader Shot at the Rogan Effect

Griffin's sharpest commentary wasn't aimed solely at Gillis — it was directed at a pattern she believes has taken root across a certain corner of the comedy landscape. She described Gillis and others as "hacks" operating under Joe Rogan's influence, suggesting that comedians in that sphere have fallen into a creative rut.

"They all tell the same jokes," she said, painting a picture of a comedy scene she sees as increasingly homogenized and reliant on shock value over genuine craft.

Rogan, of course, has long been a towering figure in the podcast and stand-up worlds, with his platform shaping the tastes and sensibilities of a massive audience. Whether his influence is a creative force or a creative ceiling is a debate that's been simmering in entertainment circles for years — and Rogan's own commentary continues to generate headlines regularly.

Gillis in the Hot Seat — Again

For Shane Gillis, this is far from the first time he's found himself at the center of a cultural storm. His relationship with controversy predates his SNL appearances, and yet he keeps landing in Studio 8H. Supporters argue he's a fearless comedian willing to push boundaries; critics counter that shock without substance isn't a boundary push — it's a shortcut.

Griffin's voice adds a particularly interesting dimension to the conversation, given that she herself has spent years navigating the fine and often unforgiving line between edgy comedy and real-world consequences.

Comedy's Ongoing Culture War

What Griffin's comments really underscore is the broader tension playing out in the comedy world right now — a tug-of-war between comedians who believe no subject should be off-limits and those who argue that punching down is simply lazy writing dressed up as bravery.

Rogan sits at the epicenter of much of that debate. His show, his guests, and his own opinions — whether on politics or pop culture — consistently ignite discussion across the spectrum. And as Griffin's remarks demonstrate, that influence doesn't go unnoticed by her peers in the entertainment industry.

Whether Griffin's critique lands as a meaningful call to raise comedy's bar or simply as one comedian's opinion remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the conversation about what stand-up comedy should look like in 2025 is very much alive — and getting louder.