Melissa Rivers: Obama Sent Handwritten Letter After Joan Rivers' Death - East Idaho News
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Melissa Rivers: Obama Sent Handwritten Letter After Joan Rivers’ Death

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NUP 164173 1384 1400200636JPG?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1411140874482Larry Busacca/NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment(NEW YORK) — Melissa Rivers made an appearance on a special Fashion Police: Celebrating Joan — the first time she’s publicly spoken out on television since her mother’s passing on Sept. 4 at the age of 81.

Rivers sat next to Fashion Police stars Kelly Osbourne, Giuliana Rancic and George Kotsiopoulos for the special, which airs Friday, and spoke about how influential her mother Joan Rivers was and the unexpected people she touched.

“She affected so many people, and people you would never expect to have humor,” Melissa Rivers said, according to E! News. “I received a letter from the White House, from President Obama.”

Rivers explained that Obama and the first lady were often targets of her mother’s jokes.

“But I received a handwritten note saying, ‘Not only did she make us laugh, she made us think,'” she said.

Rivers added, “That’s one of the things people now are realizing. It wasn’t just the funny, she made us think.”

Osbourne seconded that sentiment and added that if it weren’t for Joan Rivers, “I wouldn’t be able to be me…any outspoken, independent woman wouldn’t be who they are.”


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