Joan Rivers revokes swearing apology

Joan Rivers has withdrawn her apology for swearing live on air during Tuesday's Loose Women.

The comedienne yesterday said she was "f***king sorry" for describing actor Russell Crowe as a "piece of f**king s**t" when she appeared as a guest on the ITV1 lunchtime show.

However, she has since retracted her previous statement, claiming that the controversy has been blown out of proportion.

She told The Mirror: "Lemme get this straight. Bin Laden's top man has been released. The price of petrol is through the roof. There's inflation, depression. And people are hysterical because I said f**k?

"I was having a great time and everybody was laughing. Then these people - these idiots - came running onto the set and ripped me off my seat and dragged me off. They were saying 'Let's go, let's go, let's go'. I thought I was being arrested."

Rivers, 75, added: "At my age I should be able to say what the hell I want. I think saying, 'Go f*** yourself' is a very pleasant way of saying good morning to someone you don't like.

"So I want to say to everyone that Loose Women was an honest mistake because I truly thought I'd be bleeped. Now. Get. Over. It!"