Kathy Griffin's 'Hard Launch' of a 22-Year-Old Wasn't What It Seemed

What happens when a 65-year-old celebrity woman seemingly starts dating a man in his twenties? Kathy Griffin decided to find out.

On July 9, the comedian sparked a flurry of speculation with a simple Instagram post. She shared a photo with a mystery man and wrote, "He’s 22. Have at it, internet." Fans were quick to react, with many cheering her on.

But the story took a sharp turn just one day later. On July 10, Griffin revealed the entire episode was a setup. In a follow-up Instagram post, she wrote, "You Guys! Thanks to all those who participated in my social media sociological experiment!" She clarified, "No, I’m not dating this 22-year-old. He was helping me with security during my trip to NYC. But… what if I were?"

"On Instagram, the comments were mostly, 'Get it gurlll!' and 'He's so [fire emoji] good for you!'" she explained. "Over on Threads? A whole lot more slut-shaming, accusations of 'grooming,' and debates about how 'gross' it would be for a 65-year-old woman to date a younger man."

The "My Life on the D-List" star then pointed to what she sees as a double standard in Hollywood, citing several long-term celebrity couples where the man is significantly older. Griffin called them "some of the most long-lasting beautiful relationships in my beloved (though ageist and sexist) industry."

She wrapped up the experiment by telling fans, "Relax...just a little harmless fun with you guys with an IG post." Many of her followers applauded the move, with one writing, "I love when you stir the pot," and another commenting, "Well done and brilliantly played!!"

While this specific romance was a ruse, Griffin has been open in the past about dating younger men. In a December interview with The Cut, she reportedly acknowledged, "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." The recent experiment seems to have been her way of testing the public's freedom to accept that choice when the roles are reversed.