For the first time since the tragic passing of Joan Rivers, her daughter Melissa Rivers has publicly opened up about her mom.
[ Related: Joan Leaves Her Estimated $150 Million Estate To Her Daughter ]
While at the The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment Breakfast, Melissa paid tribute to the late comedienne:
“For me the last three months and six days ├óΓé¼ΓÇ¥ not that I’m counting ├óΓé¼ΓÇ¥ have been different to say the least. When Janice [Min, THR president and chief creative officer] asked if I would say a few words today, I was overwhelmed. Not just because it is the first time I’m speaking in tribute to my mother, but because every single person in this room could hire me, and a few have actually fired me. You know who you are but I don’t want you to feel bad … but technically I am now an orphan… My mother was fearless and I don’t mean she didn’t have any fears. I mean that although she was only 5’2”, she stood tall and walked through them. That is what made her such a brilliant performer… She was willing to say what others were thinking and too frightened to admit. She never apologized for a joke and no topic was taboo and she was fine with that… She just thought of herself as a comic and had to be funnier than everyone else. She just wanted to do her job and that was to make people laugh.”
What a sweet remembrance of such a pioneer of comedy.
In addition, Melissa talked about how Joan might feel were she there to experience this event herself:
“She’d not only be grateful and proud, she’d be beyond herself. She’d be sitting at the table, beaming. While very discreetly shoving croissants and silverware into her purse.”
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