At some point in Joan Rivers’ career, she became less comedian and more plastic surgery test subject–two professions that kind of go hand in hand. Of late, she was known as the bitchiest bitch on E!’s Fashion Police and her various feuds with the likes of Chelsea Handler and Kim Kardashian, but before that, she was somewhat more respectable during her early appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson (yes, she was archaic enough to have been on The Tonight Show long before even David Letterman). Joan and Johnny
After experiencing complications with throat surgery on August 28, Rivers was put on life support. Dignified, obsessed with vanity woman that she was, it is not surprising that Rivers desired to be removed from life support if her condition did not improve. The legacy she has left behind is twofold. For one, she has given comedians, both male and female, something to aspire to in terms of never being concerned whatsoever with being overly offensive. In the exceedingly politically correct world we live in today, this takes true courage, a kind of courage that Rivers never lost–no matter how much flak she got for commentary and insults that went “too far.” Proud to be plucked
Her second legacy, of course, is in the world of plastic surgery and beauty. No one was more unapologetic about self-admiration than Rivers. Her compulsive need to look “young” is something she championed as opposed to concealed like so many other women in the over 40 age bracket. This unique approach to manipulating public perception by putting her beauty “secrets” on blast was a large part of what made Rivers so likable. Real talk about fakeness
In addition to her bawdy, vain persona, Rivers will always hold a special place in our hearts for being able to speak frankly and more honestly than anyone, as evidenced by statements like, “I’ve had so much plastic surgery, when I die they will donate my body to Tupperware.” Here’s hoping you’ll get to take a piece of her to lunch one day.
