Melissa Rivers Knows Exactly What Mom Joan Would Say About Current Political Climate (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Joan Rivers and daughter Melissa Rivers.Photo:Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

If there was ever a time the world could use some of the lateJoan Rivers’blunt observational humor, the time is now, says her daughterMelissa Rivers.

At the Nov. 8 taping ofDead Funny - An All-Star Tribute to Joan Rivers, Benefitting God’s Love We Deliver,which will air on NBS in early 2025, Melissa tells PEOPLE she knows exactly what her mother would say regarding the recent divisive election.

“As she used to say, ‘Oh, stop it. Just stop it. Everyone get over themselves!'” Melissa says with a laugh, adding that her mom’s sense of humor appealed to everyone, and she loved being able to bring people together instead of dividing them. “She appealed across the aisles and to the far ends as well,” Rivers says.

“I think that’s one of the things that, as a country, we’re missing right now,” she continues. “Someone who can say, ‘We can all still laugh, Everyone take a deep breath. We’re still going to make jokes.’ She used to say making people laugh was like giving them a little vacation.”

Melissa Rivers attends ‘Dead Funny: An All-Star Tribute to Joan Rivers Benefitting God’s Love We Deliver’.Jamie McCarthy/Getty

Jamie McCarthy/Getty

The sold-out tribute event, which was taped at the Apollo Theater, featured a powerhouse lineup of comedians and actors, includingChelsea Handler,Rachel Brosnahan,Michelle Buteau,Sandra Bernhard,Nikki Glaser,Tiffany Haddish,Matteo Lane,Joel McHale,Patton Oswalt,Aubrey Plaza,Jeff Ross, andRita Wilton.

“This has been a major labor of love for the past couple of months,” says Melissa, who executive-produced the show. She says she’s especially proud that funds raised went to God’s Love, We Deliver, which donates hot free meals to those in need across New York. Joan sat on the board of the foundation for 25 years.

Tiffany Haddish and Nikki Glaser attend ‘Dead Funny: An All-Star Tribute to Joan Rivers Benefitting God’s Love We Deliver’.Jamie McCarthy/Getty

Melissa adds, “She is still relevant. And I think that’s something that’s going to come through the show —her voice would still be as important as ever. All the things she’s talked about are the important topics today.”

Aubrey Plaza attends ‘Dead Funny: An All-Star Tribute to Joan Rivers Benefitting God’s Love We Deliver’.Jamie McCarthy/Getty

In September, when the tribute show was announced, Melissa noted that there was a secret side to her mother, whoseaccidental deathoccurred during a routine endoscopy in Sept. 2014.

“She was shy,” Melissa told PEOPLE.

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“Back in their day, saying you were an actress implied you were a hooker as far as my grandparents were concerned,” she says. “My grandmother’s fantasy was for my mom to be a rich housewife!”

Dead Funny will air on NBCUniversal in early 2025, with Melissa Rivers, Erich Bergen, David Jammy, and Chris Convoy as Executive Producers and Whoopi Goldberg as Co-Chair.

source: people.com