Kathy Griffin, 65, sparked a frenzy of fan reaction on social media after announcing her relationship with a 22-year-old.
The comedian revealed that the initial post was part of a social experiment, with the man in question being her bodyguard.
In a post on Instagram, Griffin shared a photo of herself holding hands with a young man about to enter a car, captioning it: 'He's 22. Have at it, internet.'
The internet did just that, with her comments section flooded with messages of encouragement, some even proclaiming they are 'obsessed' with her.
However, Griffin took to social media once more to reveal that the initial post was a ruse, calling it 'A social media sociological experiment.'
She explained that the young man was simply 'helping her with security during my trip to NYC.'
Griffin then went on to address the backlash she received on other social media platforms, stating that she was flooded with support on Instagram but faced slut shaming and accusations of grooming on Threads.
She referenced several high-profile older men who have enjoyed age-gap relationships in the past, saying 'some of the most long-lasting beautiful relationships in my beloved (though ageist and sexist) industry.'
The stunt was met with praise from some of her followers, with one user declaring: 'A Queen being a Queen.'
Griffin is not shy about stirring the pot on social media, recently blasting Jimmy Fallon and The Tonight Show for hosting UFC fighter Conor McGregor, who was found liable for rape last year.
She said: 'I do think it was a bad call for him to have rapist Conor McGregor on… I think the Fallon folks made a mistake by having [him] on.'
Kathy further speculated that she had been banned from appearing on the show, especially since 2017, after she went viral for an image holding up President Trump's severed head, which caused huge backlash.
