Melissa Rivers is still dealing with complicated feelings about the public's reaction to the death of her mother, iconic comedian Joan Rivers.
Joan's death unleashed an outpouring of appreciation for her groundbreaking comedy and a mourning of the pop-cultural hole she left behind -- sentiments that often eluded her during her life, when she was mocked for her plastic surgery and off-color jokes. And while Melissa says she appreciates the "love and respect" for her mom's career, she told HuffPost Live's Alex Miranda she regrets that it came only in death. Rivers explained:
I was so beyond grateful for the love and support I received from the public at large and from people within this industry. Then I hit a point where I was very angry because that kind of love and respect was rarely shown to my mother while she was alive. And it's very hard to ... get past that something that she always said came true, which was, "Just wait, when I die, they're all gonna love me again."
But Melissa, who carries on her mother's legacy by continuing her E! series "Fashion Police," added that Joan was never one to pass up appreciation when it came her way, and she knows her mom would gleefully accept the posthumous adoration.
"The bottom line is, I hear her in my head going, 'Better late than never, and isn't this fabulous that I made such an impact in this world?'" River said.
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1965
Circa 1965 (Photo by GAB Archive/Redferns)
1966
American talk show host Ed Sullivan puts his arm around Joan Rivers as they chat on "The Ed Sullivan Show," New York, New York, September 11, 1966. (CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images)
1967
Joan Rivers poses for a portrait circa 1967 in New York City, New York. (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
1968
Ed McMahon and Joan Rivers (NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
1969
Joan Rivers attends the premiere party for "Hello, Dolly!" on December 16, 1969 at the Pierre Hotel in New York City. (Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)
1970
Joan Rivers with daughter Melissa at home in November 1970 in New York City, New York. (I.C. Rapoport/Getty Images)
1970
Joan Rivers with Melissa at home in November 1970. (I.C. Rapoport/Getty Images)
1972
Producer Edgar Rosenberg and Joan Rivers during the "Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" 10th Anniversary party on September 30, 1972. (NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
1974
Tom Jones, center, blows out candles at a surprise birthday party at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, June 6, 1974. Guests include, from left to right, Joan Rivers, Sonny Bono, Jones, Debbie Reynolds, and Liberace. (AP Photo)
1976
Joan Rivers on "The Tonight Show" in 1976. (Ron Tom/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
1980
Joan Rivers and Show Girls during "Best of Vegas" Awards at Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas. (Ron Galella/WireImage)
1981
Comedian Mark Russell, musical guest Tony Orlando, fitness expert Richard Simmons and Joan Rivers (Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
1983
Joan Rivers portrays Elizabeth Taylor during the 'Calvin Klein Jeans' skit on "Saturday Night Live" on April 9, 1983. (Alan Singer/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank)
1984
Joan Rivers at Elaine's Restaurant in New York City in 1984. (Ron Galella/WireImage)
1985
Joan Rivers poses for a portrait in 1985 in Los Angeles, California. (Harry Langdon/Getty Images)
1986
Betty White during an interview with guest host Joan Rivers on "The Tonight Show" on January 27, 1986. (Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
1988
Joan Rivers and Dolly Parton during Sandy Gallin's Christmas Party in 1988 in Beverly Hills. (Ron Galella/WireImage)
1990
Talk show host Joan Rivers is applauded by fans after winning her first Emmy as best talk show host on June 28, 1990. (AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler)
1993
Joan Rivers during the 9th Annual Rita Hayworth Gala Honors Edgar Bronfman Jr. at Tavern on the Green in New York City. (Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)
1994
Raquel Welch and Joan Rivers attend the "Sally Marr ... and her escorts" Broadway performance on April 22, 1994 at the Helen Hayes Theatre in New York City. (Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)
1996
Joan Rivers at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California (Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)
1999
Joan Rivers and Melissa Rivers during the 51st Annual Emmy Awards. (Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)
2001
Joan Rivers of E! welcomes back the red carpet before the start of the 53rd annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Shubert Theatre on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2001, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kim D. Johnson)
2003
Joan and Melissa Rivers during the 55th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 2003. (Albert L. Ortega/WireImage)
2004
Joan Rivers performs at the Stardust Resort & Casino June 26, 2004 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
2006
Melissa Rivers and Joan Rivers during the 78th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood. (KMazur/WireImage)
2008
Joan Rivers gestures during a photocall for her play "A Work in Progress by a Life in Progress" at the Leicester Square Theatre on September 2, 2008 in London. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
2009
Roastee Joan Rivers laughs at the "Comedy Central Roast of Joan Rivers" in Los Angeles on Sunday, July 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)
2011
Joan Rivers is seen on stage at the 16th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards on Friday, Jan. 14, 2011, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
2012
Joan Rivers and her daughter Melissa Rivers attend an E! Network upfront event at Gotham Hall on Monday, April 30, 2012 in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)
2012
Joan Rivers performs on stage as part of the The Prince's Trust comedy gala "We Are Most Amused" at Royal Albert Hall on November 28, 2012 in London. (Christie Goodwin/Getty Images)
2014
Joan Rivers attends "Howard Stern's Birthday Bash," presented by SiriusXM at the Hammerstein Ballroom on Friday, Jan. 31, 2014 in New York. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
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