It has been revealed that legendary comic Joan Rivers, whose health remains in critical condition, made jokes about being near death just hours before she stopped breathing during surgery. With a new wave of rumors suggesting that Rivers could be dying, daughter Melissa Rivers has issued a statement to the press.
Joan has always been able to make audiences laugh, especially when she would poke fun of herself. And this was certainly the case this week, when the comedienne appeared before a sold-out audience in Manhattan.
Just 12 hours before she stopped breathing during surgery, Joan was joking about how close she may be to death. As Mercury News reports, this stuck with some audience members:
"'She did a joke onstage, she goes, 'I'm 81 -- I could go at any moment,' said Shade Rupe, 45, who attended the Wednesday night show at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. 'I could fall over right here and you all could say, 'I was there!'"
Joan has often joked about her own mortality, but her most recent joke now seems haunting.
There have been few updates since Rivers admittance to Mount Sinai Hospital, but Melissa did offer a statement to the press. Though clearly shaken by her mother's condition, Melissa pulled herself together to tell fans (via Deadline):
"I want to thank everyone for the overwhelming love and support for my mother. She is resting comfortably and is with our family. We ask that you continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers."
Never shying away from controversy, Joan recently took heat for making controversial comments surrounding the ongoing conflicts in Israel and Gaza. When asked about her thoughts on the number of Gazans who have been killed, Rivers is quoted as saying (via NBC News):
"Ask Colin Powell. When you declare war, you declare war. They started it. We don't count who's dead. You're dead. You deserve to be dead. You started it. [Many of those killed] were the ones with very low IQs."
