Joan Rivers (WENN.COM file photo) Rivers slammed over Jewish joke

Joan Rivers is refusing to apologize about controversial comments she made about Jews during a segment on her U.S. TV show Fashion Police, insisting she uses humour to remind the public about the Holocaust.

The veteran funnywoman, whose parents were Russian Jewish immigrants, critiqued a dress worn by German supermodel Heidi Klum during Monday's episode of the E! series, saying, "The last time a German looked this hot was when they were pushing Jews into the ovens."

The remark, in reference to the Jews who were killed by Nazis during the Holocaust, upset leaders of America's Anti-Defamation League, who demanded an apology from Rivers.

However, the comedienne is unrepentant about her remark, telling American cable TV show Showbiz Tonight, "It's a joke. This is the way I remind people about the Holocaust, I do it through humour. My husband lost his entire family in the Holocaust, so let's just start with that.

"Your generation doesn't even know what I'm talking about. By my doing a joke (it) gets them talking, thinking. Didn't bother Heidi, doesn't bother me. Why don't you worry about the anti-Semites out there (instead)?"