The star-studded
funeral for the late comedian Joan Rivers was fit for a queen, Rivers' former writer Jeffrey Gurian tells
Newsmax TV.
"It was very fitting for a queen," Gurian told Ed Berliner on "MidPoint" on Monday.
Story continues below video.
Note: Watch Newsmax TV now on DIRECTV Ch. 349 and DISH Ch. 223
Get Newsmax TV on your cable system – Click Here Now
"Every celebrity in the world was there: Donald Trump and his wife, Geraldo Rivera, Jeffrey Ross, Judy Gold, Rosie O'Donnell," he explained.
"Everybody was there paying their respects to this queen of comedy who left us much too soon," he added.
Gurian, who was hired by Rivers in 1992, said he was always struck by her good humor and generosity.
He said that when he first met her, he "had no idea what to expect, and I was so pleasantly surprised."
"She was the sweetest, nicest, kindest person, exactly the opposite of her stage persona," he said.
He said that he last saw her in June while he was promoting his new book, and he offered a free copy to Rivers, which she refused.
"She said, 'Absolutely not. I don't want anything for free, I want to buy your book, and I want to support you and the book,'" he explained.
"That's how kind she was," he added.
Gurian told Newsmax that not only was Rivers a beautiful woman, but that "she was very empowering to women."