Melissa Rivers has had a rough couple of month due to the passing of her mother, Joan Rivers. While she put on a strong front, it looks like the 47-year-old found her support system not only in her close family and friends, but also in her boyfriend, Mark Rousso.
According to an exclusive report by Us Weekly , Melissa Rivers and Mark Rousso are definitely an item and have been for some time now.
“They’ve been secretly dating for a year but got really hot and heavy over the last two months,” an insider told the celebrity site. “They’re getting serious now.”
While the couple managed to keep their relationship on the down low, Rousso has reportedly been by Melissa Rivers’ side through all the stress of Joan Rivers’ hospitalization and death following a botched surgery in September 2014.
“He was very supportive through her mother’s death,” said the insider.
The couple made a very public appearance together on February 7 when Rivers brought Rousso as her date to the Pre-Grammy Gala’s Salute To Industry Icons in Los Angeles.
Melissa Rivers recently spoke to Entertainment Tonight about the first Oscars without her mother. According to the report, this year’s Oscars mark the 20-year anniversary since Melissa and Joan first covered the Oscars red carpet. The biggest night in Hollywood reportedly was an event that both her and her mother enjoyed.
“The truth is when I really break it down, she was a fan,” Melissa said of Joan’s experience covering the Oscars red carpet. “And she was thrilled to be there and couldn’t believe who she was talking to, and she always used to say it was the world’s greatest cocktail party. You talked to everyone for two minutes so you were never stuck for conversation.”
In entertainment, the saying “the show must go on” rings true, and so will tonight’s coverage of the Oscars and the post-show coverage on Fashion Police , according to Entertainment Tonight . Melissa did admit that there will be a bit of a void this year though without her mother there.
“Will anyone be able to capture my mother’s voice? Not at all.”
At least Melissa Rivers will have boyfriend Mark Rousso by her side to help her through any voids.
This is Melissa Rivers’ first long-term relationship, according to Us Weekly , since her split from Jason Zimmerman in 2011. She was also previously married to John Endicott, who is also the father of her son, Edgar Cooper, 14.
[Photo by Jason Merritt /Getty Images]