Comedienne Joan Rivers has reportedly been rushed to New York’s Mount Sinai hospital in cardiac arrest today. Rivers was said to be undergoing surgery on her throat to correct a vocal cord condition when she suddenly stopped breathing.
Rivers was reported to be in critical condition early in the day, but her condition was upgraded to stable later in the day.
A Mount Sinai Hospital spokesman issued a statement.
“This morning, Joan Rivers was taken to The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, where she is being attended to. Her family wants to thank everybody for their outpouring of love and support. We will provide an update on her condition as it becomes available.”
In a statement on the matter, the E! network, which carries Rivers’ current show, said “E!, Fashion Police and NBCUniversal continue to send thoughts, prayers and love to Joan, Melissa and their entire family.”
Rivers has seen her share of scandal recently, including accusations of making racist comments about Justin Bieber not being a “black thug”.
Before that, she had joked that staying in her daughter’s guest room was so cramped that, “Those women in the basement in Cleveland had more space, I mean it’s just the worst.” She was referring to the small group that has become known as the Cleveland Three, who had been held captive by Cleveland kidnapper Ariel Castro. The audience on the Today Show booed her.
Rivers was in an interview segment with CNN to promote a new book when was asked about her recent meanness. She grew quite upset that she would be asked such questions in what she thought would be a “softball” segment, so she promptly got up and walked out of the interview.
Days later, David Letterman lampooned the incident by getting up and walking out on his own interview with Rivers herself.