Joan Rivers stands by captivity joke

Joan Rivers has refused to apologise for comparing living in her daughter's guest room with the captivity of three women kidnapped in Cleveland.

Rivers and her daughter discussed their reality show on NBC's "Today" show on Tuesday and she complained about her living arrangements, saying, "Those women in the basement in Cleveland had more space".

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Rivers told a Cleveland newspaper that it was a joke she made as a comedian.

She says the women are free and people should move on.

Her publicist confirmed that Rivers commented to the newspaper but said Rivers could not be reached Thursday.

A statement from lawyers for Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus called Rivers' remark hurtful and said she should apologise.

Berry, DeJesus and a third woman escaped from kidnapper Ariel Castro's home last year.