Melissa Rivers, the daughter of legendary comedian Joan Rivers, has often opened up about her journey through tragedy and resilience.
The 1987 suicide of her father, Edgar Rosenberg, left a lasting impact on her life and her relationship with her mother.
While Joan Rivers was known for her wit and humor, behind the scenes, the duo faced unimaginable pain. Melissa has recently shared details about the rift that emerged between her and Joan after Edgar’s death, explaining how they eventually found their way back to each other.
This story provides a raw, honest look at the struggles they endured and how their bond was tested and later mended by time, therapy, and another life crisis.
Melissa Rivers Discusses Rift with Joan After Father’s Suicide
Melissa Rivers has candidly revealed that her father’s suicide caused a significant rift between her and her mother, Joan Rivers.
Edgar Rosenberg, Melissa’s father, died by suicide in 1987 after battling clinical depression.
Tobey Maguire’s Ex-Wife Jennifer Meyer Engaged to Billionaire Heir Geoffrey Ogunlesi
Melissa shared that the overwhelming grief and complexity of suicide left a deep wound in their relationship. She said, “It was very painful. It was very hard.”
The aftermath of Edgar’s death drove Melissa and Joan apart. They barely spoke for a year, with Melissa admitting that she initially blamed her mother.
Joan, on her part, was also grieving, having just separated from Edgar before his death. The tension between them was immense, but over time, they managed to rebuild their relationship.
It took therapy, time, and a personal crisis in Melissa’s life for them to reconnect. This process was slow but meaningful, and it eventually brought them closer.
The Aftermath of Edgar Rosenberg’s Suicide
Edgar Rosenberg’s suicide left a significant mark on the Rivers family. The unexpected tragedy happened after Edgar, who had been married to Joan Rivers for 22 years, took his own life in a Philadelphia hotel room by overdosing on prescription pills.
At the time, Edgar had been suffering from depression, which Joan believed was exacerbated by medication he had taken following a heart attack in 1984.
Melissa Rivers was devastated by her father’s death, and the trauma led to a near-complete breakdown in communication with her mother.
In a 1993 interview, Joan shared that Melissa blamed her for Edgar’s death, especially since the couple had separated shortly before the tragic event.
Their relationship hit rock bottom, with both struggling to cope with their grief. Joan admitted, “We were both so broken that we couldn’t help each other.”
For Melissa, the aftermath of her father’s death was an emotional rollercoaster. It took years before she could even begin to process the loss, and the impact on her relationship with her mother was profound.
The grieving process was long and painful, as they struggled to find common ground while dealing with their respective emotional wounds.
Rebuilding Their Relationship
The turning point in Melissa and Joan’s relationship came when Melissa found herself in a personal crisis, in an abusive relationship, and reached out to her mother for help.
Joan came through for her daughter during that difficult time, marking the beginning of their reconciliation.
Melissa shared, “It took another major crisis for us to heal from the other crisis.” The road to recovery wasn’t easy, but they slowly started rebuilding their relationship.
Melissa also emphasized the importance of therapy in their healing process. It gave them the tools they needed to navigate their grief and reconnect on a deeper level.
Despite the immense pain they both carried, they realized that they needed each other more than ever.
With time, their bond grew stronger, and they were able to move forward, united in their shared experience of loss.
Suicide Prevention Efforts
Once Melissa and Joan had mended their relationship, they became advocates for suicide prevention, channeling their grief into something meaningful.
Back in 1987, suicide was a stigmatized topic, and there was little public discourse around mental health.
Melissa has shared that people often didn’t know what to say to her family, as suicide was viewed with shame or as something hereditary.
Determined to break the silence, the Rivers family threw themselves into advocacy. Melissa became co-chair of the Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services and Suicide Prevention, working to raise awareness and support those affected by suicide.
She has since been open about the importance of de-stigmatizing suicide, speaking candidly about how it “sucks” and how the aftermath is incredibly difficult for the survivors.
Melissa’s honesty about her father’s suicide has helped many people feel less alone in their grief.
She continues to make herself available for those dealing with similar situations, offering support and sharing her experience to help others navigate the challenging road of loss.
Joan Rivers’ Decision to Leave Los Angeles
In the wake of Edgar Rosenberg’s death, Joan Rivers decided to leave Los Angeles and move back to New York City, where both she and Edgar had always felt more at home.
Melissa shared that her parents had always struggled to fit into the Hollywood scene, and after her father’s death, it became clear that Los Angeles was no longer the right place for Joan.
Ben Affleck and Kick Kennedy: Is There a New Romance? What We Know So Far
Melissa recalls that her parents had made a pact to return to New York if one of them passed away, although she never fully understood why.
Joan, true to their agreement, relocated to New York, where she could start fresh and distance herself from the painful memories associated with Edgar’s death.
For Joan, New York represented a new chapter, and it allowed her to continue building her career while also healing from the immense loss she had suffered.