Annie Duke Talks Charity and That Pesky, Name-Calling Joan Rivers

By Bryan Alexander Posted Oct 23rd 2009 07:57AM

'Celebrity Apprentice' might have ended in May, but the bad blood remains between finalists Annie Duke and Joan Rivers. While the the comedian Rivers might have won the 'Apprentice' crown over the poker player, it's hard to tell who has won the war of words which still continues. "I don't have any interest in continuing to have some kind of feud with her," Duke tells PopEater during a chat about her upcoming charity poker tournament. "When the show was done, it was done. But (Rivers) doesn't feel the same. It's hard to have a hatchet-burying with someone who's continued months later." Duke says Rivers continues to refer to her as childish names during interviews.

"She calls me Annie Douche, which is appropriate to an 11-year-old."

And the poker star claims that Rivers is rewriting 'Apprentice' history by telling folks that Duke gave an obscene gesture after the heated final show. "I didn't personally give (Rivers) the finger, my friend did. I didn't think it was a terrible thing, but I didn't do it and I didn't put her up to it," says Duke. "Somehow that's morphed to me giving her the finger."

Finally, Duke is sure she is not going to get an apology for the infamous line when Rivers called her "worse than Hitler." Thinking back on it, Duke laughs that Rivers might have been giving her a compliment for the "ambiguous" statement. "She should tell me what I am supposed to be worse than Hitler at," says Duke. " I am worse at growing a mustache than he is."

Not taking reality television "that seriously" to continue a feud is just one of the many lessons she would pass onto the new batch of 'Celebrity Apprentices' who are filming now. In her mind, the show was about her charity and that giving spirit will be in full force when Duke hosts the second annual "Ante Up For Africa" tournament at San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino on October 29 with Don Cheadle.

At least at poker events, the celebs behave.

"I've never seen it get heated at a charity event," says Duke. In fact, she's never even seen two celebrities have an argument. Then she thinks again. "Actually, I might want to enhance my reputation, but instituting a fight between Casey Affleck and Marlon Wayans," Duke laughs. "I'll be like, 'Yo, Marlon, you should have heard what Casey said about you!"

Remember boys, don't shoot the piano player!

Tags: annie duke, AnnieDuke, celebrity apprentice, CelebrityApprentice, good news, GoodNews, joan rivers, JoanRivers

Comments

(6)

Friday 23 October

By Hugh

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I'm sure there are tons of rich people looking for love on your crappy website. Right. As for The Apprentice, it just plain sucks and I'm surprised that Annie even agreed to do it. I like Annie, she keeps it real. As opposed to Trump walking around with that dead raccoon on his head - unreal! Joan was just po'd because her precious horse-faced Melissa got thrown off the show. Only episode I've ever watched, never again.

By Roz J.

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Face it Annie, Rivers is a first rate bit ch. A bit ch who, like her daughter, feels entitlement. I watched that show (never again) and JR snuck in the backdoor to compete with you in the finale. She didn't deserve much more than the third week elimination. Trump wanted her there in the end and nobody had any control over that. She proved she has no class by how she berated you. Can you say jealous? JR knows her only chance to remain in the public eye is to create controversy...and ugly jewelry!!

By rudewaitress

Face it Annie, Rivers is a third rate bit ch. But for her that's like a Badge of Honor. She's a disgrace to women.

By Trisha

Annie, you are a class act! I have no idea why Trump allowed you to be berated by that petty Rivers woman- ratings, I suspect. When the elder Rivers was spewing her venom you acted with great restraint. You raised more money for charity than they did- and you did it with skill. I won't watch The Apprentice again. Trump thinks that losers like the Rivers women and Omarosa help the show- they don't.

Love you, girl!

By bud

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I agree. She got screwed and Rivers was insane. Trump's a bloated moron

Monday 02 November

By sunrise

Annie is a sore loser, she learned this from her loser brother. Because a person raises more money does not make them the winner, even in poker. If people watch the poker tournments they would see first doesn't equate to winner of anything but the pile of money, how you get there counts for so much more.

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