“It is with great sadness that I announce the death of my mother, Joan Rivers,” Melissa Rivers said in a written statement today. “She passed peacefully at 1:17 p.m. surrounded by family and close friends. My son and I would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff of Mount Sinai Hospital for the amazing care they provided for my mother,” Melissa Rivers just released in a statement. Joan Rivers, the dynamic, brilliant, bold and fearless comedian passed away today at 1:17 PM eastern time at the age of 81.
Per ABC News– Joan Rivers, who co-hosted the popular E! TV show “Fashion Police,” had been hard at work recently, critiquing the outfits worn by stars at the MTV Video Music Awards and the Emmys with her usual acerbic wit. On Aug. 28, however, she was in New York City having surgery when she suffered cardiac arrest. She was rushed to the hospital, where she arrived unconscious and doctors kept her sedated. On Sept. 2, her daughter, Melissa Rivers, revealed that she had been placed on life support.
“My mother has been moved out of intensive care and into a private room where she is being kept comfortable,” she added in a statement the next day. “Thank you for your continued support.”
In the past couple of days things have been mum as to an update on her condition since Melissa’s update on the 2nd, however word broke around 3PM on televisions and the internet regarding her sudden passing. It is crazy to believe from my point of view that literally a week ago I was watching Joan crack joke after joke on her wildly successful and hilarious show “Fashion Police” on E! which she cohosts with Giuliana Rancic, Kelly Osbourne and George Kotsiopolous.
Joan Rivers follows the sudden passing of comedian Robin Williams who tragically took his own life last month. Hard to believe that we lost two comedy icons in such a short time for two completely different reasons, but nonetheless it is heartbreaking to millions of fans who adored both of them, one being me. Regardless of what people thought about her regarding her plastic surgery, her very extreme views on weight, appearance, politics and whatnot, you can’t deny that Joan paved the way for many female AND male comics today who use shock value to get an audience. I applaud Joan for saying what we are all thinking, and not giving a flying fuck what people say about her. We wouldn’t have a Kathy Griffin if we didn’t have Joan, and I know tons of people in the LGBT community are saddened by her death, being the gay icon that she is and her supports for the various AIDS charities that she championed for a ton of years (in particular “God’s Love We Deliver”. Check out the site here).
Love you Joan.