Rosie O’Donnell Opens Up About ‘Painful’ Ellen DeGeneres Friendship Fallout

As a journalistic expert providing a well-researched, analytical take with key insights and data, I’m Zoe Bennett, and I’m here to dive into the complicated history between Rosie O’Donnell and Ellen DeGeneres. The facts matter, and here’s what we know so far. Rosie O’Donnell recently reflected on a heartbreaking moment from her decades-long friendship with Ellen DeGeneres, revealing that the Finding Dory star denied knowing her during a TV interview in the early aughts.

This painful experience has left a lasting impact on Rosie, who described it as “one of the most painful things that ever happened to me, in show business and my life.” The 63-year-old actress and talk show host remembered the moment vividly, recalling that she had photos of Ellen holding her newborn babies and had known her for 30 years. The denial was especially hurtful given that Rosie had shared a memorable moment with Ellen on her eponymous Rosie O’Donnell Show in the ’90s, where they joked about Ellen coming out as “Lebanese.”

Rosie believes that Ellen’s actions were motivated by her desire for success and accolades, saying that Ellen “was all of a sudden in the position I was in where she was starting a show and wanted it to be successful and get the money and the accolades that came with it.” Instead of standing by Rosie, Ellen denied their friendship, leaving Rosie feeling betrayed. The two have “never gotten over it,” and Rosie has not received an apology.

In her reflection, Rosie shared that she would have handled the situation differently, saying, “I would have said, ‘I’m really sorry I hurt you that much and I don’t know why I did that. It was a mistake and I hope you can forgive me.'” However, Rosie believes that Ellen thinks she keeps rehashing the issue for pleasure, when in fact, she’s trying to process her emotions.

The two celebrities have fundamentally different approaches to relationships, with Rosie prioritizing creating family and connections wherever she goes. She has built a family with ex-wife Kelli Carpenter, with whom she shares kids Parker, 30, Chelsea, 27, Blake, 25, and Vivienne, 22, as well as late ex-wife Michelle Rounds, with whom she shared child Clay, 12. Meanwhile, Ellen married Portia de Rossi in 2008.

Despite their alleged feud, Ellen has defended Rosie in the past, writing to her on Instagram earlier this year, “Good for you,” after President Donald Trump threatened to revoke her citizenship. The incident highlights the complexities of celebrity relationships and the lasting impact of public feuds.

In addition to the Rosie and Ellen situation, other celebrities have been involved in public feuds. Tan France and Bobby Berk, former co-stars on Queer Eye, addressed rumors of a falling out, with Bobby clarifying that their issue was personal and not related to the show. Tan also responded to allegations that he had campaigned to replace Bobby on the show, stating that Netflix and production companies conducted a full casting process.

Another high-profile feud involves Shannen Doherty and Alyssa Milano, former co-stars on Charmed. Holly Marie Combs, a former cast member, alleged on her podcast that Alyssa had once made an ultimatum to Shannen, although the details of the incident are unclear.

These public feuds demonstrate the challenges of maintaining relationships in the spotlight, where every move is scrutinized and can have lasting consequences. As we continue to follow these stories, one thing is clear: celebrity relationships can be complicated, and the fallout can be lasting.

That wraps up today’s analysis. Stay informed, stay critical, and follow the facts.

Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! News, Vanity Fair, Instagram, Let’s Be Clear podcast
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed