Joan Rivers walks out on TV interview after 'negative' line of questioning

January 25, 2010. Comedian Joan Rivers arrives for the premiere of the documentary "Joan Rivers - A Piece Of Work" during the 2010 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. (Reuters)

Apparently Joan Rivers thinks it's mean when someone calls her mean. The opinionated comedian walked out of a CNN interview after she interpreted the line of questioning to be an attack on her sense of humor reports TVGuide.com.

In a taped interview with CNN Newsroom host Fredericka Whitfield meant to promote Rivers' new book "Diary of a Mad Diva," the "Fashion Police" host took offense to Whitfield pressing the issue of Rivers' comedy having a tendency to offend others. Specifically, Whitfield brought up Rivers' fashion critiques, calling them "mean."

"It's not mean, it's not mean," Rivers interjected. "I tell the truth. I'm sure I say the same things that all your viewers say to their friends sitting next to them on the couch."

Whitfield laughed off Rivers' response, and from the look of it, seemed to think that Rivers was playing some kind of fun game. The CNN anchor pushed things further, asking if Rivers had any boundaries when it came to offensive humor.

Rivers responded, "Life is very tough, and if you can make a joke to make something easier and funny, do it. Done."

A seemingly oblivious Whitfield continued to unknowingly poke the bear, pointing out that Rivers carries "shock value" and that Rivers wore a fur on the cover of her new book.

"You know, this whole interview is becoming a defensive interview," Rivers said. "Are you wearing leather shoes? Then shut up."

Shortly afterward, Rivers began to take off her microphone and then really laid into Whitfield, telling her she "was not the one to interview a person who does humor, sorry."

Whitfield could only respond, "Are we serious?"

If the old adage of "There's no such thing as bad press" is true, then Rivers should do fine with her new book tour. Earlier this week Rivers made headlines when she told a street reporter that President Obama was gay and First Lady Michelle Obama was a "tranny."

Watch part of the interview: