Publicist Admits 'Last Recording' of Joan Rivers Is a Fake

Publicist Beck Lee has admitted that a tape which he claimed to be the last recording of legendary comedian Joan Rivers was a fake, according to the New York Post.

Lee's claim was a weak attempt to promote the off Broadway show "My Son the Waiter, A Jewish Tragedy" for his client, Brad Zimmeran. The publicist had told Page Six of the Post earlier this week that he had recently discovered the recording.

Rivers was hired to record an ad for Zimmerman's play on the same day she went in for an endoscopy at Manhattan's Yorkville Endoscopy clinic, however she died in the hospital following complications from the procedure. In a fraudulent attempt to exploit the situation, Lee paid a Joan Rivers impersonator to record the promo, telling the Post that Rivers made it at her home. He went as far as to post the phony recording on YouTube, calling it "Joan Rivers Last Session," along with a picture of the comic and the dates "1933-2014." It has since been taken down from the site.

Yesterday, Lee confessed to Page Six, "I hired an impersonator and made the tape last week. I did claim it was made by Joan Rivers and it was her voice. I wish I hadn't."

Judy Katz, a representative for Rivers, reacted with understandable rage to the news, saying "a publicity stunt .?.?. wholly disrespectful to the memory of Joan Rivers." In addition, other reps for Rivers are furious that both Lee and Zimmerman would exploit the comedian so soon after her tragic passing.

A statement from Zimmerman reads, "The recording thousands upon thousands heard yesterday was not Joan in reality, but maybe Joan in spirit." His off-Broadway show follows his life as an aspiring comedian.

Photo Credit: Jennifer Broski