Comedienne Joan Rivers has died aged 81.
In a statement, her daughter Melissa confirmed the news this evening, saying: “She passed peacefully at 1:17pm surrounded by family and close friends.
“My mother’s greatest joy in life was to make people laugh. Although that is difficult to do right now, I know her final wish would be that we return to laughing soon.”
The tragic news follows reports that Rivers had been moved out of intensive care earlier today.
The Fashion Police host was rushed to hospital a week ago after she stopped breathing during a routine surgery.
It's understood that Rivers was undergoing vocal chord surgery at a New York clinic when doctors noticed she was no longer breathing and she was later rushed to Manhattan Mount Sinai hospital. It is believed the dispatcher was told a patient was in “either cardiac or respiratory arrest" and she was later said to be in a "critical condition".
