The Wrap reports that Joan Rivers "insisted her quick exit was not a PR stunt," regarding her storming off during a satellite CNN interview this weekend. But of course it was—she may not have caused a scene for the sole purpose of selling more copies of her 12th book, Diary of a Mad Diva, she may have been authentically pissed in the moment (or as authentically anything as anyone can be with a camera pointed at her) but...did you know that Rivers had a book out before the clip of her admonishing Fredericka Whitfield went viral?

Said Rivers:

The CNN interviewer was a news reporter and not an entertainment reporter...She did not seem to understand we were talking about a comedy book and not the transcripts from the Nuremburg Trial. Every question was an accusatory one designed to put me on the defensive.

Right, and as we know, Rivers much prefers to be on the offensive. It's amusing that someone who's been talking shit in public for half a century would be so touchy, but then, it often happens that the most abrasive ones are also the most sensitive. Whatever, her CNN meltdown is best thing Joan Rivers has done in public since participating in the 2010 documentary A Piece of Work.

Rivers is also standing by her recent labeling of Michelle Obama as a "tranny." She sent a statement to CNN (probably addressed to, "An Entertainment Reporter i.e. NOT Fredericka Whitfield") saying she meant "tranny" as a compliment:

She's so attractive, tall, with a beautiful body, great face, does great makeup. Take a look and go back to La Cage Au Follies (sic). The most gorgeous women are transgender. Stop it already ... and if you want to talk about 'politically correct,' I think this is a 'politically incorrect' attack on me because I'm old, Jewish, a woman and a 'hetty' — a heteosexual ... and I plan to sue the reporter who, when he turned off his camera, tried to touch me inappropriately on the a** - luckily he hit my ankle. Read the book ... if you think that's silly, wait to (sic) you see what I say about FDR and Eleanor!

Joan Rivers is pissed off and kind of freaking out, and that's entertainment.

[H/T Towleroad]