Kathy Griffin's Hard Launch of 22-Year-Old Boyfriend Was "Experiment"

Kathy Griffin, 65, Hard Launches New Romance With Boyfriend, 22, on Social Media

Kathy Griffin is demonstrating how fans can suddenly jump to conclusions about her love life.

One day after the Suddenly Susan alum seemingly teased a new romance with a 22-year-old, she admitted it was all a "sociological experiment" to see how people would react to an older woman dating a much younger man.

"You Guys! Thanks to all those who participated in my social media sociological experiment!" Griffin, 65, wrote in a July 10 Instagram post. "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?"

The comedian shared a photo of herself and the mystery man the day prior, writing in a July 9 Instagram post, "He’s 22. Have at it, internet."

According to Griffin, the various reactions she received on social media were "fascinating."

"On Instagram, the comments were mostly, 'Get it gurlll!' and 'He's so [fire emoji] good for you!'" she explained in her new post. "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 went to highlight a double standard, citing several celebrity age gap romances, in which the man was significantly older than the woman.

As for her examples? Griffin noted that Luke Wilson, 54, recently welcomed a "beautiful baby" with his girlfriend Kendall Yates, 24. Other couples she listed included Michael Douglas, 81, and Catherine Zeta-Jones, 56; Harrison Ford, 83, and Calista Flockhart, 61; and Jay-Z, 56, and Beyonce, 44.

Noting the couples were "some of the most long-lasting beautiful relationships in my beloved (though ageist and sexist) industry," she added, "Relax...just a little harmless fun with you guys with an IG post."

Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for TIME

Despite pulling a fast one on many fans, several of Griffin's followers applauded her for her elaborate ruse.

As one user put it, "I love when you stir the pot."

"Well done and brilliantly played!!" a second fan wrote, while another commented, "U are so iconic for this."

While the Emmy winner is indeed not dating a man in his twenties, she's been open about having relationships with younger men in the past.

After all, she told The Cut in a piece published in December, "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 bracket that society tells you is the only option for you."

For a closer look at more age gap romances in Hollywood, read on...

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