Joan Rivers’ Daughter Talk Past Trauma After Wildfire Loss

Joan Rivers’ daughter, Melissa Rivers, may have lost her home and numerous prized possessions in the tragic Palisades wildfire; however, her past losses have made her more resilient to trauma.

The famous daughter of the late TV icon Joan Rivers and movie producer Edgar Rosenberg recently reflected on how her parents’ deaths influenced her reaction to the devastating wildlife.

Melissa Rivers recalled rushing to grab all she could before evacuating her home, lamenting the loss of her parents’ mementos and other belongings. Although she has no idea how to rebuild her life, she plans to persevere, following her family’s unique motto.

Melissa opened up about enduring the loss of her home and treasured memories in the Palisades tragedy. She addressed the situation as someone who was no stranger to trauma, revealing she barely cried following the incident.

“I’ve only had two little cries so far. One for five minutes and the other for about 20. I’m one of those people who has twice gone through the experience of going to bed one way, and then you wake up with your life upside down,” Melissa told PEOPLE, adding:

“First with my father [Edgar Rosenberg, who died by suicide in 1987], and then when I lost my mom [Joan Rivers]. I know that I have to just keep putting one foot in front of the other. There’ll be time to really cry later.”

While reflecting on the life-changing day, Melissa noted she had been filming a bit for QVC at home when an assistant and her son Cooper told her about the rampaging fires simultaneously. She immediately called her fiancé, Steve Mitchell, to come home, and they rushed to evacuate.

The former “Fashion Police” host recalled grabbing supplies for her dogs and cat and packing essential papers. “It’s crazy to look down and realize that everything you own in life has been stuffed into three LL Bean Tote bags. It’s all just so surreal. I think I’m still in shock,” she confessed.

“We got everything we could and left. In hindsight, you want to say we probably could have had more time to get stuff together, but in the moment, we did exactly what we’re supposed to do, which was just go. Because when they say go, you go,” Melissa added.

Following her first evacuation, Melissa sought refuge in two places, but the widespread fires forced her to move. She finally settled in a friend’s home, a comfort that allowed her to regret not packing her parents’ sentimental items.

“My mom’s favorite sweater. I had her bathrobe and my dad’s bathrobe. Everybody is like, ‘What about her wardrobe?’ But I’m like, I lost the only three things of theirs that I kept in my house because they reminded me so much of them,” she lamented.

Despite losing so much and having no idea what to do next, Melissa prioritized getting out of her friend’s home and reuniting her pets. Additionally, she noted that checking up on others and comforting them helped ease her mind.

When asked where she found the strength to sympathize with others while navigating the aftermath of the Palisades wildfire, Melissa credited her late parents and their unique family motto, saying:

“I am my parent’s daughter. Our family motto was from Winston Churchill: ‘If you’re going through hell, keep going.'”

“There’ll be time to wallow later. Right now is not the time that I am capable of feeling sorry for myself. I know it is going to hit me at some point, but right now, I don’t have time to let it hit me,”she continued.

“And thank God I have a dark sense of humor because I’m keeping everyone around me laughing, including myself. That’s my superpower,” Melissa declared.

Days earlier, The Blast reported Melissa had taken one of her late mother’s prized treasures before evacuating her home. She revealed in an interview that she had prioritized packing her parents’ mementos before leaving, saying:

“To be 100 percent honest, I grabbed my mom’s Emmy, a photo of my dad, and a drawing that my mother had done of me and my son.”

“I went for a drawing of my mother’s rather than a photo because I know I can find the photos. [The drawing] I can’t replace,” Melissa shared. Additionally, she went through a “mental checklist” to gather essential documents like passports, birth certificates, medication, clothing, and pet supplies.

Although Melissa Rivers could not save everything she had, she and her loved ones escaped the Palisades tragedy unharmed. What will she do next?