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Joan Rivers protests Costco ban of her new book

Comedian Joan Rivers handcuffed herself to a shopping cart and compared Costco to "Nazi Germany" because the giant retailer refuses to carry her book.

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Evan Agostini/AP
Joan Rivers says that Costco is not carrying her book, “I Hate Everyone… Starting With Me,” because of jokes on the back cover that the store considers inappropriate.
  • By Molly Driscoll Staff Writer

TV host and author Joan Rivers was escorted from a Costco store by police Tuesday after Rivers handcuffed herself to a shopping cart to protest the business’s decision not to carry her book.

Rivers had a bullhorn and shouted through it that Costco was like “Nazi Germany.”

“Next thing they'll be burning the Bible,” she said.

While this occurred, Rivers was filmed by a camera crew.

Rivers said Costco would not carry her book, “I Hate Everyone… Starting With Me,” because of jokes on the back cover that the store considered inappropriate. The back cover features (imaginary) quotes from writer Sylvia Plath, Jack Kevorkian, and others.

The manager at Costco called police, who escorted Rivers from the store.

Burbank city spokesperson Drew Sugars said no arrests had been made.

“She had a whole entourage," Sugars told the Los Angeles Times. "Sounds like a staged media event.”

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