In a troubling turn of events, Melissa Rivers appears to have transformed the Instagram account of her late mother, the legendary comedian Joan Rivers, into a promotional vehicle — an act that has provoked mixed reactions from the public.
Sources reveal that since Joan’s passing in 2014, Melissa has gradually assumed control of her mother’s vast social media presence, including Joan’s official Instagram account, which commands over a million loyal followers. While Joan was renowned for her sharp humor and biting commentary, the current feed has shifted dramatically, now filled with unmistakable advertisements for Melissa’s personal projects.
“She got the passwords after Joan died,” confides a Hollywood insider. “And she’s been using them ever since — ostensibly to ‘honor’ her mom, but also to keep the spotlight on herself.”
In stark contrast, Melissa’s own Instagram presence is markedly less influential, with only 324,000 followers, leading to speculation about whether she is leveraging Joan’s legacy to enhance her own visibility.
“Let’s be real,” observes a concerned family friend. “She’s attempting to emerge from her mom’s shadow — but she should recognize that she wouldn’t have the platform she does without Joan.”
Recent posts have included promotions for projects such as Joan Rivers: A Dead Funny All-Star Tribute, which Melissa played a role in producing, as well as raising awareness within Joan's expansive audience.
“Joan was a one-of-a-kind talent, and Melissa is making efforts to keep her memory alive,” states another insider. “However, let’s not kid ourselves; she is standing tall in that spotlight too!”
