Joan Rivers Chains Herself to Costco Shopping Cart in Protest

(Image Credit: ABC)

Costco shoppers got even more than they bargained for Tuesday when comedian Joan Rivers showed up in Burbank, Calif., with handcuffs, a megaphone and copies of her New York Times bestseller.

Rivers caused a commotion at the warehouse-club chain when she made an unannounced and unauthorized in-store appearance. The comedian brought copies of her bestselling novel, "I Hate Everyone … Starting with Me," and autographed them for fans in the store. She carried a megaphone and even handcuffed herself to someone's shopping cart.

The comedian's appearance was reportedly in protest of Costco's decision to ban the comedian's book, which has been on the New York Times bestseller list for more than six weeks. Rivers says the ban is because of two inappropriate parody quotes on the book from Marie Antoinette and Wilt Chamberlain.

But for Rivers, 79, it was about more than raking in book sales from the wholesale vendor.

"This is very frightening and it is truly about the First Amendment," Rivers told ABC affiliate KABC-TV. "This is America and I don't want to see censorship."

The usually outspoken comedian didn't waste any time making a joke of the incident.

"This is a store that sells 300 rolls of toilet paper at the same time," Rivers told KABC. "And I say any customer that buys 300 rolls of toilet paper deserves a funny book to sit on the toilet and read."

Costco did not immediately return requests for comment.

When Burbank police arrived, Rivers agreed to leave and no charges were filed.

Rivers is a Costco member, she told KABC, and she isn't asking people to stop shopping at the discount retailer.

"I have bought my condoms there and will continue to do so," Rivers told KABC.

Meanwhile, the comedian outraged British viewers last week when she joked at the expense of the late Princess Diana on an episode of her show, "Fashion Police." Rivers said during the episode, "If you ever want to go to Paris, fly don't take the tunnel."