Joan Rivers storms out of CNN interview after telling anchor to ‘shut up’
Angered by anchor Fredricka Whitfield’s ‘negative’ line of questioning, the 81-year-old comedian walked off the set in the middle of the segment.
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Joan Rivers is one mad diva!
The comedian, who appeared on CNN to promote her new book “Diary of a Mad Diva,” walked off the set in the middle of the interview after objecting to anchor Fredricka Whitfield’s “negative” line of questioning.
The interview, which was taped earlier this week and aired Saturday, started out congenially, with Whitfield talking about Rivers’ multi-hyphenate career as an author, comic and host of E!’s “Fashion Police.”
When the anchor described the fashion critiques as “very mean in some ways,” the 81-year-old cut her off.
“It’s not mean, it’s not mean, it’s not mean,” she said. “I tell the truth.”
“I’m sure I say the same things that all your viewers say to their friends sitting next to them on the couch,” Rivers added. “We’re one of the few shows that says ‘that’s an ugly dress.’ … These ladies make $28 million a picture. You really think that Nicki Minaj cares I didn’t like her dress?”
Joan Rivers tells CNN anchor Fredricka Whitfield to ‘shut up’ during the interview. CNN Joan Rivers tells CNN anchor Fredricka Whitfield to ‘shut up’ during the interview.
The octogenarian added that when she makes scathing comments about celebs’ outfits, it wasn’t meant to be personal: “It’s not about them, it’s the clothing.”
Whitfield then asked Rivers about her take-no-prisoners style of humor and wanted to know if Rivers ever worried about offending people.
“Life is very tough,” she responded. “If you can make a joke to make something easier and funny, do it.”
The news anchor then continued to press Rivers on her “shock value,” citing the cover of her new book, in which she wears a fur coat, which Whitfield said could draw the ire of animal rights activists. And that’s when Rivers lost her temper.
“This whole interview is becoming a defensive interview,” she said. “Are you wearing leather shoes?” When Whitfield said yes, Rivers told her, “then shut up.”
Joan Rivers visited a Barnes & Noble in New York City to promote her latest book, ‘Diary of a Mad Diva’ on Monday. Walter McBride/WireImage
Joan Rivers visited a Barnes & Noble in New York City to promote her latest book, ‘Diary of a Mad Diva’ on Monday.
Whitfield pointed out that she could wear leather shoes because she wasn’t an animal rights activist, unlike the comedian.
“I don’t want to hear this nonsense,” Rivers fired back. “Come to me with a paper belt, and I’ll talk to you.”
Whitfield then tried to continue the same line of questioning, and that’s when Rivers announced, “I’m going.”
“All you’ve done is negative,” she said. “I’ve made people laugh for 50 years, I am put on Earth to make people laugh. My book is funny. I wear fur that was killed 15 years ago, I work for animal rights.”
“Stop it with ‘you do this and you’re mean’!” Rivers added, nearly shouting. “You are not the one to interview a person who does humor! Sorry!”
She then stormed out of the interview as Whitfield said, “Are we serious?”
After airing the segment, the anchor noted that she thought that Rivers’ exit was a joke, until she didn’t return to the interview.
Her mid-interview walkout comes on the heels of her recent controversial comments about the First Couple, in which she said that President Obama is gay and that his wife Michelle is a “tranny.”
Marfa B
21 hours ago
I had a feeling that all this Joan Rivers crapp was nothing more than publicity push for a book of hers.
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6 replies
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Sandi K
19 hours ago
There's NOTHING that's gonna sell that garbage. Clearance bin and beyond!
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Anne Flyzik
18 hours ago
You were right.
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Caroline Kennedy
13 hours ago
Joan's come up before all other women comedians and it was damn hard.
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3 replies
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RebuttalNJ
2 hours ago
Nobody is denying her just dues, but if she wants to make a living offending and being controversial, she's gotta be able to take the heat associated with it! In addition, the interview was right along that vein, serious questions, with a touch of humor and in essence asking her to defend her style. This is a bitter, venemous old woman!
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1 reply
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Jan Far
1 hour ago
Don't speak for me, I never cared for HER threw many of my own relatives and hearing myself. She's joke that ever was.
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Jan Far
1 hour ago
I don't care she's a disgrace.
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THE NYCEO
16 hours ago
Joan Rivers (81) tells a CNN anchor to shut up and storms off, Donald Sterling (80) tells his minority mistress to not hang out with minorities and Clint Eastwood (84) makes a buffoon of himself and the GOP by talking to an empty chair. So much for older and wiser. Thank God for Betty White !!
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linda reynolds
14 hours ago
Oh please. So what is Sarah Palin, Ted Cruz, Donald Trump (and his phony Safari animal killing sons), Rush Limbaugh, the right wing of the Supreme Court, all of the Fox News crew, Paul Ryan, John Bohner, Rick Perry, etc etc etc, I doubt any of those people will ever be wise. Fact is stupidity has no age and very few gain wisdom they simply get old.
But some of them do.
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Virginia Carpenter
4 minutes ago
Fortunately this is not a true statement. What is the point of living if you do not get wiser?
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Howard Huges
3 hours ago
Oh, but Clint Eastwood was so right. Obama is nothing more than an empty
man occupying an empty chair, in an empty White House. There is no
there, there.
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Jan Far
1 hour ago
It's about our President being black not to mention inheriting Bush and Republicans mess.
Opinions are one thing but holding the American people hostage
at that time and still doing it.
Keep up the good working in keeping racism alive.
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kelekous
3 hours ago
eastwood was being funny and sterling has a right to his opinion regardless of what anyone else thinks. this act of river's has not always been her shtick,and betty white is a gem.
at the YouTube comments
