During a surgical procedure on her throat at a clinic, 81-year-old Joan Rivers stopped breathing and was immediately taken to a New York City hospital, TMZ reported Thursday.
Rivers was in critical condition, Mashable confirmed with the New York Police Department at 12:30 p.m. ET, though around the same time, Rivers' TV colleague Ken Baker tweeted that the "living legend" was in stable condition.
The longtime TV personality and comedian, whose biting humor takes jabs at celebrities and fashion, is still at Mount Sinai Hospital, Mashable confirmed.
"This morning, Joan Rivers was taken to The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, where she is being attended to," Sid Dinsay, a spokesman at Mount Sinai Hospital, said in a statement emailed to Mashable. "Her family wants to thank everybody for their outpouring of love and support. We will provide an update on her condition as it becomes available."
Update, Aug. 28, 9:10 p.m. ET: Her only daughter, 46-year-old Melissa Rivers, in an emailed statement sent to Mashable said: "I want to thank everyone for the overwhelming love and support for my mother. She is resting comfortably and is with our family. We ask that you continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers." However, the Daily News reports Rivers is in a medically induced coma and will remain that way until doctors and Melissa assess the damage caused by Rivers' time not breathing.
Update 2, Aug. 29, 2:30 p.m. ET: Melissa Rivers provided another emailed statement, writing, "My mother would be so touched by the tributes and prayers that we have received from around the world. Her condition remains serious but she is receiving the best treatment and care possible. We ask that you continue to keep her in your thoughts as we pray for her recovery."
Joan Rivers, born Joan Alexandra Molinsky in Brooklyn, currently stars in Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best? In an episode last year, a doctor checked out Rivers' cough and discovered a potential cancerous spot.
Rivers was in "cardiac or respiratory arrest" Thursday during throat surgery, TMZ reported, citing a call made to the hospital to report Rivers' condition before she was hospitalized.
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Rivers talks openly about her health issues (she was diagnosed with osteoporosis in 2002) as well as her cosmetic surgeries, once detailing that she began undergoing them in the mid-1960s. In the same decade, she started making a name for herself in the entertainment industry with guest stints on the Johnny Carson-hosted The Tonight Show.
Rivers released an autobiography, titled Diary of a Mad Diva, earlier this year. Most recently, Rivers appeared on Fashion Police on E! this week, dissecting the fashion choices seen at the MTV Video Music Awards and Emmys.
Mashable has left messages for Rivers' publicist and manager to gather more details.