Community Chat

[RibbonsAndBows]

NY Post, May 3, 2014, 1:29 a.m.

Joan Rivers has been thrown overboard by Norwegian Cruise Line for an off-color joke.

Rivers got into hot water last week for a punch line about three women who were held captive in Cleveland by evil Ariel Castro.

She said on “Today,” when she was asked what it’s like living with her daughter, Melissa: “I’m still in the same stupid little room. Those women in the basement in Cleveland had more space.”

Reps for two of the women, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus, demanded an apology, but Rivers refused, saying, “I’m a comedienne .?.?. There is nothing to apologize for. I made a joke. That’s what I do.”

She later reportedly said, “One of them has a book deal. Neither are in a psych ward. They’re OK .?.?. I bet you within three years, one of them will be on ‘Dancing With the Stars.’?”

But as a result of the drama, her summer vacation plans have now been scuttled. Joan and Melissa were booked on a July cruise to Alaska where they’d give lectures on board and travel in style with Melissa’s son, Cooper, 13.

But the cruise line called Rivers Friday to say the ship had already sailed. “Someone from their marketing team called Joan and said they didn’t want her,” said a source. “They said they’re a family-friendly brand.”

When contacted for comment, “Fashion Police” star Rivers told us, “Of course they canceled me! They were terrified what I would say after seeing the size of their cabins. They should be featured on ‘Orange Is the New Black.’ ”

She added of the boat ban, “It’s insane. Why would [the joke] affect anyone in Norway?”

But she figured it was all for the best since “they would have had some very nervous Jews. When I got on board, I would have given the captain a Breathalyzer test. We would have brought our own life jackets, and slept in the lifeboats.”

Rivers told us of the Cleveland comment that if she should apologize to anyone, it would be to Melissa, with whom she stars in a WE tv reality series, “for insulting the size of her guest room.”

Norwegian Cruise Line’s rep didn’t return calls.

[Deb1010again]

Oh my... Norwegian should've known what they're getting when they book Joan Rivers.

[scotttie]

Guess Norwegian didn't think the joke was appropriate either.

[brii]

Why would they book her in the first place? Her act isn't really family material.

[croemer]

I like a good joke and have seen Joan in person and found her very funny and engaging and charming to her audience, but have never cared for mean jokes about something tragic in someones life. Guess Norwegian Cruise line either got enough complaints or does not want to take a chance with Joan... after her remarks. Their Cruise... their right.

[Kalli]

I'm not a fan of JR but I doubt it was meant as anything else but a joke. Having said that, there are lots of things you can no longer poke fun at. Whatever your opinion on this, we all know that's the way things are now and especially those in the public eye need to be careful about their comments.

-Kalli

[RainCityGirl]

I didn't hear the exact thing that she said, but someone summarized it as a joke about the size of the room they were held in as compared to some other room she was talking about. She didn't say anything insulting about the actual captives, did she? Just asking. To me she is a comedienne, and most comics take liberties with just about any topic. I don't know why anyone would be surprised. Take her or leave her, Joan's life will go on, whether a Norwegian Cruise lines or anyone else likes her or doesn't.

[KathyPet]

Any cruise line that says it's "family friendly" must be crazy to hire Joan to,start with. With her potty mouth and off color humor she hardly should be considered "family friendly"

[bikerbabe]

I don't think it has anything to do with needing to be ""politically correct"" with public comments in today's society. Her joke could be interpreted as making fun of someone else's pain and suffering. That is always inappropriate.

[scotttie]

Eventually, especially in todays climate, her brand of "humor" may continue to hit her in her pocketbook. THAT she will care about.