Comedy veteran Joan Rivers has offered her support to former FRIENDS star Jennifer Aniston, declaring her split from ex-husband Brad Pitt to have been "hell on earth".

The funnywoman expressed her sympathy at the breakdown of the showbiz marriage, revealing how she met the pair at the beginning of their romance.

Rivers says, "It's very sad. I remember when they got engaged. We went to a big party, and they were holding hands and he was showing the ring off very proudly.

"But life changes. It must be hell on earth to open a paper and there's your ex with the new girlfriend and the baby."

And the 72-year-old, whose own life has been tinged with heartbreak after her husband EDGAR ROSENBERG's suicide, has words of advice for the newly-single actress.

She says, "Get over it. Move on."