Comedian Kathy Griffin has spoken openly and emotionally about her late brother, Kenneth, revealing deeply troubling experiences that she says shaped her childhood and family life.
In a new video shared on YouTube, Griffin discussed the trauma she endured after learning that her older brother was a child sexual abuser, a discovery she says she made when she was just 10 years old. She explained how the revelation fractured her family and left lasting psychological scars.
“It was a very difficult thing, and it definitely caused a lot of division in my family,” Griffin previously said on the podcast The Skinny Confidential.
“I Have the Most Empathy for the Victims”
Griffin, known for her stand-up comedy and appearances on shows such as Seinfeld, said she spent years hiding the darker side of her family history while building her public career.
She expressed sympathy for her parents, particularly in the context of generational trauma, but emphasized that her deepest empathy lies with her brother’s victims.
“I have a lot of empathy for my mom and dad because I know my father wasn’t abusive — he was abused by a coach and a priest,” she said. “However, I have more empathy for the victims.”
Allegations of Violence and Addiction
In the video, Griffin described her brother Kenneth — who has since died — as living a destructive life marked by severe drug addiction and violence.
“My older brother Kenneth, who is now deceased, was addicted to cocaine, lived on the streets, and was very violent,” she said. “He most likely had an undiagnosed mental illness, which clearly did not mix well with heavy cocaine use.”
She further stated that she learned from Kenneth’s ex-wife and former girlfriend that he was physically abusive, and later discovered from another partner that he had abused both a boy and a girl, information she said she had not previously known.
Repeated Calls to Police and Lasting Fear
Griffin said she repeatedly contacted the police — sometimes as often as once a week — but claims authorities told her they could not act unless the victims themselves came forward.
According to Griffin, the lack of intervention led to intense frustration, fear, and emotional distress.
“I wanted to kill him because the only thing I could think about was those children,” she said. “Having an older brother who is a pedophile is something you never forget. You don’t get over it.”
Family Estrangement and Final Years
Because of the situation, Griffin said she refused to be in the same room as her brother, leading the family to celebrate holidays separately.
“I’m not going to sit in a room with Kenneth once a year and pretend he’s not a pedophile who beats women,” she said.
Kenneth Griffin died of a drug overdose in 2001.
Griffin’s revelations have sparked discussion about family trauma, accountability, and the emotional toll carried by relatives of abusers — particularly when legal systems fail to intervene.
