Melissa Rivers isn’t pulling any punches against former and short-lived co-host Kathy Griffin, whose parting words from Fashion Police took a cheap shot at her late mother, Joan .
At least, that’s how she interpreted Kathy’s comments , and she thinks the Fashion Police matriarch would’ve thought the entire spat that led to the show’s demise after her death was completely ridiculous, USA Today reported.
“(It) was this little jewel, and it was the last piece I had of my mother and I working together. And I felt like all these people were so out of control — including the one who made the allegations of racism — they took the last thing I had and smashed it … I was Humpty Dumpty … on my knees gluing it back together, or trying to at least find the pieces.”
A refresher on the drama: Following Rivers’ sudden passing in 2014, Kathy replaced her for a stint. That’s when fellow panelist Giuliana Rancic made a controversial comment that Disney star Zendaya’s dreadlocks smelled of marijuana, the New York Daily News recounted.
Following that incident. Griffin announced her departure on Twitter at length, saying “I do not want to use my comedy to contribute to a culture of unattainable perfectionism and intolerance towards difference,” People added.
And that’s the part that riles Melissa, although she stressed that she didn’t believe she intended to be offensive toward Joan and her comedic legacy.
“My biggest complaint was the feeling that she kind of s— all over (her) legacy in her statement on leaving. I know everything was so heightened and everybody was so crazy, but that was my takeaway. I know that was not an intentional reading of it, but that’s how I felt. By calling the comedy and the style of it old-fashioned – I understand what you were doing … trying to save yourself, but don’t crap all over (her) to do it.”
But Rivers has already moved on, noting, “no harm, no foul.”
One doesn’t have to be the comedic legend’s daughter to predict her reaction to Rancic’s comments, Griffin’s dramatic departure, and the whole panel-wide kerfuffle that followed her death. Melissa said her mom would’ve yelled at everyone and then told the ladies to stop fighting and crying, USA Today added.
“I think there might be a little bit of a twinkle in her eye, saying, ‘Y’all couldn’t do it without me, could ya?’ And then, after that, I think she would be … frustrated. … If something like that had happened and (she) had been alive, her reaction immediately would have been, ‘Are you serious? Oh, please. All this over a wig?’ Literally, it was a wig. Let’s just all relax … Now, let’s go to work and make a funny show.’”
[Photo Courtesy YouTube Screengrab]
