Joan Rivers launches into angry rant to defend her daughter on ‘The Celebrity Apprentice’

Rivers defends daughter on ‘Celebrity Apprentice’

NEW YORK — Think twice before crossing Melissa Rivers — her mother might just step in and chew you out.

Joan Rivers unleashed an earful of insults after Donald Trump fired her daughter on “The Celebrity Apprentice.”

Rivers’ targets: poker champ Annie Duke and Playboy pinup Brande (BRAND-ee) Roderick.

Melissa Rivers, who appeared with her mom on the NBC show, claimed the two formed an alliance against her. She called them “pit vipers.”

Joan Rivers launched into mama-bear mode, calling Roderick a “stupid blonde” and Duke a “white trash” poker player. She called the duo “a Nazi and a follower.”

NBC representative Amanda Ruisi didn’t immediately return phone and e-mail messages seeking comment. Donald Trump could not immediately be reached.