Entertainment uk celebrityJoan RiversMelissa Rivers

Joan Rivers' Daughter Melissa Opens Up About Comedian's Final Moments: 'I Made Sure She Was In No Pain - And Looked Amazing'

Melissa Rivers Opens Up About Joan's Final Moments
Daniel Welsh
|

Melissa Rivers has opened up about her final moments with her mum, Joan Rivers, who sadly died last year.

SEE MORE:

In the days before her death, Joan had been in hospital on life support, after suffering cardiac arrest while undergoing an operation on her vocal cords.

Her daughter, Melissa, has spoken out about the last few moments she spent with her mother, telling ‘This Morning’ presenters Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes: “I made sure that she was in no pain and surrounded by those that she loved and that loved her the most - and that she looked amazing, and the room was filled with flowers and music.

Open Image Modal

Melissa Rivers speaks to 'This Morning'

“I got into the bed and held her for a while… and it was very peaceful.”

Getting emotional, Melissa commented that “one of the greatest gifts” she received from Joan was that “there was no unfinished business between us”, adding: “I was able to say goodbye and not question our feelings for each other.”

Open Image Modal

Melissa and Joan Rivers

Melissa also spoke about how she and her teenage son, Cooper, were coping without the presence of the legendary comedian in their lives, explaining: “[We are] coping very well, and we are figuring out the new normal. It takes time.”

She later spoke about their “normal” relationship as a mother and daughter, revealing: “There were ups and downs and conflict and being the best of friends, the biggest and best teammates, as well as wanting to throttle each other half the time!

“I think that’s what people really responded to with all of our work on the red carpet, ‘Fashion Police’ and the reality show, how truly normal our relationship was and something in it that everyone can relate to.”

Melissa was recently confirmed to be taking over Joan’s position as lead presenter on the E! show ‘Fashion Police’, which was briefly filled by fellow comedian Kathy Griffin, although after just a handful of episodes, she announced that she was stepping down from the series.

Kelly Osbourne also quit the show back in February, a move which came after co-presenter Giuliana Rancic was met with accusations of racism, over comments she made about the actress Zendaya.

Joan Rivers Through the Years
1965(01 of32)
Open Image Modal
Circa 1965 (Photo by GAB Archive/Redferns) (credit:GAB Archive via Getty Images)
1966(02 of32)
Open Image Modal
American talk show host Ed Sullivan puts his arm around Joan Rivers as they chat on "The Ed Sullivan Show," New York, New York, September 11, 1966. (CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images) (credit:CBS Photo Archive via Getty Images)
1967(03 of32)
Open Image Modal
Joan Rivers poses for a portrait circa 1967 in New York City, New York. (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images)
1968(04 of32)
Open Image Modal
Ed McMahon and Joan Rivers (NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) (credit:NBC via Getty Images)
1969(05 of32)
Open Image Modal
Joan Rivers attends the premiere party for "Hello, Dolly!" on December 16, 1969 at the Pierre Hotel in New York City. (Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage) (credit:Ron Galella via Getty Images)
1970(06 of32)
Open Image Modal
Joan Rivers with daughter Melissa at home in November 1970 in New York City, New York. (I.C. Rapoport/Getty Images) (credit:I C Rapoport via Getty Images)
1970(07 of32)
Open Image Modal
Joan Rivers with Melissa at home in November 1970. (I.C. Rapoport/Getty Images) (credit:I C Rapoport via Getty Images)
1972(08 of32)
Open Image Modal
Producer Edgar Rosenberg and Joan Rivers during the "Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" 10th Anniversary party on September 30, 1972. (NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) (credit:NBC via Getty Images)
1974(09 of32)
Open Image Modal
Tom Jones, center, blows out candles at a surprise birthday party at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, June 6, 1974. Guests include, from left to right, Joan Rivers, Sonny Bono, Jones, Debbie Reynolds, and Liberace. (AP Photo) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
1976(10 of32)
Open Image Modal
Joan Rivers on "The Tonight Show" in 1976. (Ron Tom/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) (credit:NBC via Getty Images)
1980(11 of32)
Open Image Modal
Joan Rivers and Show Girls during "Best of Vegas" Awards at Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas. (Ron Galella/WireImage) (credit:Ron Galella via Getty Images)
1981(12 of32)
Open Image Modal
Comedian Mark Russell, musical guest Tony Orlando, fitness expert Richard Simmons and Joan Rivers (Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) (credit:NBC via Getty Images)
1983(13 of32)
Open Image Modal
Joan Rivers portrays Elizabeth Taylor during the 'Calvin Klein Jeans' skit on "Saturday Night Live" on April 9, 1983. (Alan Singer/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank) (credit:NBC via Getty Images)
1984(14 of32)
Open Image Modal
Joan Rivers at Elaine's Restaurant in New York City in 1984. (Ron Galella/WireImage) (credit:Ron Galella via Getty Images)
1985(15 of32)
Open Image Modal
Joan Rivers poses for a portrait in 1985 in Los Angeles, California. (Harry Langdon/Getty Images) (credit:Harry Langdon via Getty Images)
1986(16 of32)
Open Image Modal
Betty White during an interview with guest host Joan Rivers on "The Tonight Show" on January 27, 1986. (Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) (credit:NBC via Getty Images)
1988(17 of32)
Open Image Modal
Joan Rivers and Dolly Parton during Sandy Gallin's Christmas Party in 1988 in Beverly Hills. (Ron Galella/WireImage) (credit:Ron Galella via Getty Images)
1990(18 of32)
Open Image Modal
Talk show host Joan Rivers is applauded by fans after winning her first Emmy as best talk show host on June 28, 1990. (AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
1993(19 of32)
Open Image Modal
Joan Rivers during the 9th Annual Rita Hayworth Gala Honors Edgar Bronfman Jr. at Tavern on the Green in New York City. (Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage) (credit:Ron Galella, Ltd. via Getty Images)
1994(20 of32)
Open Image Modal
Raquel Welch and Joan Rivers attend the "Sally Marr ... and her escorts" Broadway performance on April 22, 1994 at the Helen Hayes Theatre in New York City. (Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage) (credit:Ron Galella, Ltd. via Getty Images)
1996(21 of32)
Open Image Modal
Joan Rivers at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California (Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage) (credit:Ron Galella, Ltd. via Getty Images)
1999(22 of32)
Open Image Modal
Joan Rivers and Melissa Rivers during the 51st Annual Emmy Awards. (Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage) (credit:Ron Galella, Ltd. via Getty Images)
2001(23 of32)
Open Image Modal
Joan Rivers of E! welcomes back the red carpet before the start of the 53rd annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Shubert Theatre on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2001, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kim D. Johnson) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
2003(24 of32)
Open Image Modal
Joan and Melissa Rivers during the 55th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 2003. (Albert L. Ortega/WireImage) (credit:Albert L. Ortega via Getty Images)
2004(25 of32)
Open Image Modal
Joan Rivers performs at the Stardust Resort & Casino June 26, 2004 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images) (credit:Ethan Miller via Getty Images)
2006(26 of32)
Open Image Modal
Melissa Rivers and Joan Rivers during the 78th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood. (KMazur/WireImage) (credit:KMazur via Getty Images)
2008(27 of32)
Open Image Modal
Joan Rivers gestures during a photocall for her play "A Work in Progress by a Life in Progress" at the Leicester Square Theatre on September 2, 2008 in London. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images) (credit:Chris Jackson via Getty Images)
2009(28 of32)
Open Image Modal
Roastee Joan Rivers laughs at the "Comedy Central Roast of Joan Rivers" in Los Angeles on Sunday, July 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
2011(29 of32)
Open Image Modal
Joan Rivers is seen on stage at the 16th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards on Friday, Jan. 14, 2011, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
2012(30 of32)
Open Image Modal
Joan Rivers and her daughter Melissa Rivers attend an E! Network upfront event at Gotham Hall on Monday, April 30, 2012 in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
2012(31 of32)
Open Image Modal
Joan Rivers performs on stage as part of the The Prince's Trust comedy gala "We Are Most Amused" at Royal Albert Hall on November 28, 2012 in London. (Christie Goodwin/Getty Images) (credit:Christie Goodwin via Getty Images)
2014(32 of32)
Open Image Modal
Joan Rivers attends "Howard Stern's Birthday Bash," presented by SiriusXM at the Hammerstein Ballroom on Friday, Jan. 31, 2014 in New York. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) (credit:Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK | FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip