With a camera crew in tow, comedienne Joan Rivers stormed in to a Costco outlet in Burbank, Calif., on Tuesday to protest the chain for not carrying her latest semi-autobiographical book, “I Hate Everyone … Starting with Me.”
The 79-year-old handcuffed herself to a shopping cart and used a bullhorn to loudly voice her protests, claiming that the wholesale franchise had banned sales of her book. Trailed by a team of assistants who brought along copies of the book, Rivers, acting without authorization from the store, sold and autographed copies directly to store customers.
Rivers’ publicist told NBC News that the book had been banned, but Costco declined comment and the book's publisher, Berkley Books, could not be reached for comment.
Those who were closely involved saw an evident motivation behind the protest. “She had a whole entourage,” Burbank city spokesman Drew Sugars told the Los Angeles Times. “Sounds like a staged media event.”
So what caused the uproar over the book?
According to ABC News, "Rivers says the ban is because of two inappropriate parody quotes on the book from Marie Antoinette and Wilt Chamberlain." However, she told KTLA, a CW affiliate, that “Costco banned my book because of one word on the back cover.”
While her claims fluctuated, Rivers steadfastly acted unhappy. According to KTLA, she provocatively shouted, “This is the beginning of Nazi Germany! Next thing they’ll be burning the Bible!
“It’s about First Amendment rights … I feel like this is a country where people should have the right to have the literature they want,” Rivers said.
The police were eventually called, and, according to the LA Times, no arrests or citations were made, allowing the long-time Costco member to continue shopping there, which she reportedly plans to do.
As for garnering attention for her latest literary oeuvre, Rivers' camera crew, handcuffs, bullhorn, and public protest sure beats a traditional book signing.
What do you think about Rivers' protest? Did Costco actually infringe on her rights, or is this a publicity stunt? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.
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