Joan Rivers had no skaam cells

Joan Rivers had no skaam cells

The world is mourning the loss of comedian Joan Rivers who was well known for her controversial take down of celebrities - including herself.

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The 81-year-old's "tell it like it is" personality and uncensored humour often had people squirming in their seats.  

Not even paralympian Oscar Pistorius was spared from the Joan Rivers firing line. 

During an episode of her hit E! Entertainment show, Fashion Police, Joan took a jab at Christina Aguilera's less than flattering look at the 2000 VH1 Music Awards.

She labelled Christina's platinum blonde hair with red streaks a 'skank do'.

She then delivered this shocker: "The last time I saw a blonde with red streaks in her hair she was laying on Oscar Pistorius' bathroom floor." 

Here are some of her famous celebrity jabs:

"Look at Gwyneth Paltrow being named the most beautiful this year. She got Helen Keller and Stevie Wonder to vote," she said after Gwyneth was named People magazine's most beautiful woman. 

"It just dawned on me why Jennifer Lawrence fell on her way up to the stage to get her Oscar. She tripped over her own arrogance."

On Kim Kardashian's baby, North West: "That baby is ugly. … I've never seen a six-month-old so desperately in need of a waxing."

"Lindsay Lohan said she wouldn't mind being under oath because she thought Oath was a Norwegian ski instructor," she tweeted in 2010. 

After meeting singer Adele at the Academy Awards in 2013: "She was very scared because she was singing at the awards. She kept saying, ‘My throat, my throat – I don’t know if I can swallow.’ And I said, ‘Oh, yeah! You can swallow." 

"Elizabeth Taylor has more chins than the Chinese telephone directory." "Elizabeth Taylor fat? Her favourite food is seconds."

If you think that was bad, then you might be surprised to know that Joan wasn't immune to taking a dose of her own medicine. She often made fun of herself. She once said she wished she could have a twin sister, so she could see what she looked like without plastic surgery.  She also claimed that she had so much plastic surgery that when she dies she will donate her body to Tupperware. 

Weeks before her death, and at the height of the Hamas-Israel conflict, TMZ posted a video of a cameraman asking Joan (whose parents were Jewish) about the scores of people who have died in Palestine. A clearly agitated Joan said they deserved to die. Watch the clip below:

Her death has sparked debate on Twitter. Her fans, friends and family have posted loving tributes but many have said karma has come back to bite her. 

Others pointed out she was in her 80s...

Love her or hate her, Joan Rivers could not be ignored and it seems she has made sure she will not be forgotten. 

In her 2012 book, I Hate Everyone…Starting With Me, Joan highlighted all the things she would like to happen at her funeral. 

"When I die (and yes, Melissa, that day will come; and yes, Melissa, everything’s in your name), I want my funeral to be a huge showbiz affair with lights, cameras, action…I want Craft services, I want paparazzi and I want publicists making a scene! I want it to be Hollywood all the way. I don’t want some rabbi rambling on; I want Meryl Streep crying, in five different accents. I don’t want a eulogy; I want Bobby Vinton to pick up my head and sing “Mr. Lonley.” I want to look gorgeous, better than I do alive. I want to be buried in a Valentino gown and I want Harry Winston to make me a toe tag. And I want a wind machine so that even in the casket my hair is blowing just like Beyoncé’s." 

*Our new weekly column Time for Tea takes a look at celebrity news making headlines. So grab yourself a cuppa, and join the conversation!

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