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Joan Rivers Jokes About Whitney Houston Death in New Book — Does It Go Too Far?

9:55 am, May 19th, 2012

(GettyImages.com)

(GettyImages.com)

Nothing is off limits to Joan Rivers, who’s gleefully pushed the boundaries with her comedy for decades, but a joke about the late Whitney Houston in Rivers’ new book is still raising some eyebrows.

The book, “I Hate Everyone… Starting With Me,” includes a section on travel, in which Rivers writes:

“I hate Houston. It’s crawling with bugs. Oh, wait, that’s Whitney Houston; I’m sorry, my bad. (Can I just mention that Whitney looked fabulous at the Grammys? She was in mahogany from head to toe.)”

Rivers has argued that celebrities are fair game for outrageous jokes in both life and death.

What do you think?

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  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ANWZMO4743F3VD6FAI5EUKQVEQ Terrance

    Don’t think someones death is funny in anyway.

  • http://www.facebook.com/thlaylia Tara Darling

    Well, take heart, we’ll all be cracking jokes at Rivers’s death before too long…

  • Regina1180

    It’s pretty obvious that she’s never going to die.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_63SFUJ622FEIJ65S5YKIQG425A Sophia

    Death isnt something to be treated as a joke. Whitney has accomplished twice as much as Rivers, so is she really in a position to be criticizing her?? Plus, that was downright rude.

  • Anonymous

    for a comic what do you expect besides Joan has been in the business for 50+ years

  • D. Martin

    People need to think about who they are hurting before they say stuff. One, it’s disrespectful of the dead and two, she still has people who love her. Her mother and daughter. People really need to THINK before they say stuff. It wasn’t funny.

  • Regina1180

    Not for nothing, but Joan Rivers is disrespected all the time. People say terrible things about her. Because she hadn’t passed away, why aren’t those people expected to have some compassion for HER family?

  • bhodiedog

    Joan Rivers thinks she can say anthing she wants now because of her age, that might be true, but she certainly doesn’t have any class or dignity…I guess all she cares about is the $$$….

  • higglty pigglty

    Maybe she already has but is just too obnoxious to admit it and lay down….

  • GaPeach

    Should she have said it or not – I don’t know. Joan can be cruel but she hasn’t over dosed on drugs. Whitney had a great voice and is really missed. But to be truthful – she had a f’d up life.

    If this means she can be criticized in death – probably not. But Joan won’t be the last to take a shot at her.

  • Geomild

    Joan who? The woman is vile! She looks like a joke.She had to say something to shocking to get people talking about the crap she’s released, sorry I mean her book. Unlike whitney, when she goes, she won’t be missed by millions.

  • D. Martin

    We’re talking about respect for the dead and the loved ones left behind to mourn her. Is Joan Rivers dead? No. She’s still around to defend herself. I don’t hate Joan Rivers. I’m not necessarily a fan but I don’t hate her. I’m just saying that she should have considered Whitney’s mother and daughter before she wrote that.

  • Pixie

    Exactly. Rivers is nuts, rude and ignorant. Only an idiot would find it comic or funny. Joking about anybody’s death is a big no-no.

  • Persianpickle

    Whitneys family is so grief stricken their coming in a reality show? They wouldn’t even be offered one if Whitney hadn’t passed away.Talk about cashing in before the loved ones even barely gone!!!

  • Regina1180

    So because someone is alive to defend themselves, it is perfectly alright to belittle them?

    Not saying I agree with what Rivers said.

  • Mimiblair

    Joan Rivers has been doing things of this sort for years, she joked about her own husbands death. She laughs to keep from crying. She looks in the mirror everyday at what she’s done to her face, and she realizes there’s no reversing the damage. She wasn’t a pretty woman prior to all the surgery, and even more so now.

  • http://www.facebook.com/RTCastleberry R.T. Castleberry

    Joan who?

  • Anonymous

    I agree..totally cashing in on her death. I think this is just as sordid as to what Joan said.

  • Hdhddh

    D’s point is that Whitney died recently, and the loss of a loved one is enough for the grieving ones she left behind. That’s enough for them to deal with, without people laughing at something that causes them immense pain.

  • D. Martin

    Thank you Hdhddh — you said this much better than I did. Very well said.

  • Kayinmcn

    And the Jackson family hasn’t been cashing in om Michael’s? Sordid is the perfect word.

  • Regina1180

    Sure, they’ll just drown the pain in the giant payday they’re gettin from interviews and now a reality show.

  • Peaceoutalyssa

    okay ?

  • Sherry

    Totally unacceptable behavior on the part of Joan Rivers. I see no humor there. Or dignity.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NT76VK53DF5ZO3IA5IUXYKN6NU ~Sandi~

    Classic overratted white BITCH who really has nothing but her big mouth….that’s really NOT paying off for her either….LOL LOL She’s still single and HOMELY….

  • Joeyjoeyjoey

    Please, The joke was great.I hope people make rude jokes about me after I die. It means I was remembered.

  • grampa40

    Rivers’ has been an overrated ass for many, many years. I guess what goes around comes around and she’ll be getting hers soon enough!

  • Angeldogshittykitty

    I thought it was funny, whitney was overated anyway. She chose to live that way and got what she deserved. Yes I feel sorry for the family but Whitney should of thought of that before doing all those drugs. She took a shot at whitney not the family. Stars are fair game. Joan is a start and will be picked on when she is dead. The only difference is she didnt ruin her life just her face! What an ugly sac of of wrinkles. Shes uglier than my poop after taco bell. Ill say the same after she is dead. I hope they do the same to me.

  • Shudsoldman

    One can only hope it is soon. She has never been funny to me. The fact that we still see her on TV is a sad commentary. Slime such as Rivers & H Stern getting rich for what they do — DITTO !!!!

  • Shudsoldman

    One can only hope it is soon. She has never been funny to me. The fact that we still see her on TV is a sad commentary. Slime such as Rivers & H Stern getting rich for what they do — DITTO !!!!

  • Thegoodyumaman12

    Joan Rivers is SCUM. But you can’t tell her that…she’s consider it a compliment.

  • Tbuckl

    I have no sympathy for people who chose drugs over living right. So Joan made a comment……..so what………..she has the right. I don’t see her pick on people who die from cancer or old age……it’s just the stupid ones she picks on.

  • Naniat70

    Tbuck
    You may not have sympathy for those using drugs, but drugs are also a disease like cancer. Joan Rivers should not judge anyoe nor should you. She has been mean and rude for years. That isn’t being a comedian that is being an old woman who hasn’t grown up.

  • Chatterbox

    I thought it was HILARIOUS!!!

  • Pkelley

    Hi D and well said! I just for the life of me I just have never understood that what ever you choose to call her, has to say anything about other people. She did try and put the screws to Johnny Carson and she never did hear from him for the rest of his life, and she was finding it very hard to find work.
    Whitney, O love you and so glad your not around to hear this sick Being

  • Veegreene2

    THAT,S RIGHT.IT,S NOT FUNNY AT ALL/SHAME ON JOAN RIVERS..THIS STINKS

  • http://www.facebook.com/jacqueline.coble Jacqueline Coble

    Thats Rude, Crude, and Utterly Disgusting, That ole bag’s Day is coming though. Whitney WOULD NEVER speak of anyone this way. Shame On You!! I’ll Remember this the day your old ass croaks!

  • http://twitter.com/Ladybee313 Brenda Baker

    you are so right!

  • http://twitter.com/Ladybee313 Brenda Baker

    I agree!!

  • http://twitter.com/Ladybee313 Brenda Baker

    Take a shot while they are alive so they can so they can tell her off! Joan didn’t ruin her face it was already ruined

  • http://twitter.com/Ladybee313 Brenda Baker

    Too funny but you are so right!

  • destiny

    Houston was the Fourth highest selling female artist of ALL TIME. Nothing overrated about that. Yes she did reap what she sowed but you and I do harmful stuff to ourselves all the time (over eating, speeding on the road, etc.) That put our lives in danger so we’re not that different. No need for harsh judgements. Besides, jokes about someone being dead are not funny. There’s a difference between joking about someone’s BEHAVIOR (I.e. Whitney’s crack is wack quote) and joking about someone’s demise. What’s funny about worms crawling around someone’s dead corpse? The only people who find that funny are hateful people like joan and yourself.

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