Kathy Griffin steps out with Levi Johnston

LOS ANGELES - Kathy Griffin went the cougar route for her date to the Teen Choice Awards on Sunday night.

The star brought Levi Johnston, the teenage ex-fiance of Bristol Palin, daughter of former Alaska governor Sarah Palin.

The couple held hands as they walked down the red carpet at the event, set to be hosted by the Jonas Brothers.

So why did Johnston, 19, decide to come with Griffin, 48?

“She’s beautiful and funny,” he told Access Hollywood. “She’s the star of the night.”

“Miley (Cyrus), try to top this!” Griffin added.

Johnston has made a number of public appearances, including several talk show interviews, since rising to national prominence last year, when he and Bristol Palin came forward about her pregnancy during the vice-presidential run of Bristol’s mother.

The couple called it quits shortly after the birth of a son, Tripp, in December 2008.

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