Joan Rivers was known for her caustic wit and her refusal to give anyone special treatment. She was mean to just about everyone, apart from perhaps her dogs, and went on being mean to people as part of her pisstakey schtick all the way up until her death yesterday aged 81.
Yes, people who've seen her earlier routines or - shock, horror - old enough to be alive to watch them the first time round, will know that she was an icon, someone who pushed through the glass ceiling of women in American comedy and let hundreds of funny women (and drag queens, don't forget drag queens) in behind her.
However, she stayed relevant by slagging off relevant people, and though we'd never normally do a 'celebrities respond to the death of blah blah blah', Joan was the first to comment on other people's deaths. Plus, it's really sweet in a way we can't quite explain:
Cher
What Joan said: 'I said Justin Bieber looked like a little lesbian -- and I stand by it: He's the daughter Cher wishes she'd had' (as well as a lot of schtick in the live show about her plastic surgery. Yes, really)
What they said:
Khloe Kardashian
What Joan said:
What they said:
(along with the comment: 'Rest in peace Joan!! You will be missed!!')
Lena Dunham
What Joan said: When radio presenter Howard Stern suggested to Joan that maybe Lena Dunham's nudity is to help girls to be themselves. Joan replied: 'But that’s wrong! You’re sending a message out to people saying ‘it’s OK! Stay fat! Get diabetes. Everybody die. Lose your fingers.'
What they said:
oh, and this admission:
Sarah Jessica Parker
What Joan said: 'Is it me or are her arms continuing to grow? She could sit in a beach chair and grab a coconut'
What they said:
Alexa Chung
What Joan said and what they said is all rolled into one:
Lindsay Lohan
What Joan said: 'Lindsay Lohan said she wouldn't mind being under oath because she thought Oath was a Norwegian ski instructor.' and... 'Lindsay Lohan is so dumb. Her idea of being sworn in is cursing at the judge. I was reading about the Lindsay Lohan diet ... all liquid. 80 Proof.'
What they said:
Naomi Campbell
What Joan said: an entire section of her routine was dedicated to Joan mocking Naomi's anger during that legendary cell phone incident, where Naomi threw her Blackberry at an assistant.
What they said:
Rihanna
What Joan said:
What Rihanna said:
Anna Kendrick
Once again, it's all rolled into one:
People who have notably shied away from paying tribute to her despite having since been on social media include Miley Cyrus, Victoria Beckham, Britney Spears and Selena Gomez. We guess Joan's humour was just an acquired taste...
Follow Sophie on Twitter @sophwilkinson
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.