“It is with great sadness that I announce the death of my mother, Joan Rivers,” said her daughter Melissa in a statement. “She passed peacefully at 1:17pm surrounded by family and close friends. My son and I would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff of Mount Sinai Hospital for the amazing care they provided for my mother.
“Cooper and I have found ourselves humbled by the outpouring of love, support, and prayers we have received from around the world. They have been heard and appreciated. 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.”
Last week, Rivers stopped breathing while undergoing surgery on her throat. As TMZ reports, the comedian was in the middle of an operation on her vocal cords at a clinic when she was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Later that day, Rivers’ daughter Melissa released a statement, saying that her mother was in stable but serious condition. “My mother would be so touched by the tributes and prayers that we have received from around the world,” Melissa said at the time. On Saturday, USA Today reported that Rivers was in a medically induced coma. That same day, TMZ claimed she had been placed on life support and that her family would have to decide what to do within the days that followed.