Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen reflect on why Joan Rivers was so popular with the gay community

Who better to discuss Joan Rivers’ popularity with the gay community than two of the most famous gay men on television: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen.

Anderson had Andy on his CNN show last night to talk about the late, great comedy icon who died yesterday at the age of 81.

Said Cooper: ‘She really did have a big appeal in the gay community. I think she – beyond her acceptance of people – there was something about how she had overcome all of these obstacles: Her husband committed suicide, she had a child to raise, she was cut off by Carson, and yet she persevered.’

Cohen, who had Rivers on his Bravo show over the summer and recently saw her at a wedding, had this to say: ‘I don;’t want to live in a world without Joan Rivers – no one does. she was such a life force. thought she was in her 80s it’s still shocking. … She was someone you thought wold be around forever.’

‘From the beginning she was an underdog,’ he added. ‘She was a female standup comic who made it big. Gay people like uncensored divas and she certainly was – she was just consistently funny and we love a funny lady.’

To see why Anderson Cooper didn’t like Joan as a kid, check out my story over at Gay Star News.