Comedienne and former co-host of The View, Rosie O’Donnell, has revealed that she underwent a facelift, despite previously denouncing plastic surgery as a “betrayal” of feminism.
The outspoken comedienne had promised her fans that she would hold off on getting a facelift until after losing 50 pounds. However, after achieving her weight loss goal, she chose to go through with the surgery, later describing it as a “secret shame.”
“I once held very strong views on facelifts,” O’Donnell shared on Substack. “Not just casually, but on a moral level. I positioned myself as a leader for women who wouldn’t resort to that. I thought it was a betrayal of feminism, aging, and women’s solidarity. Then I lost 50 pounds.”
“It wasn’t just the wrinkles; it was gravity. I looked in the mirror and felt like, this isn’t aging—it’s like I’m melting. I tried to shift my perspective, telling myself, ‘This is natural, this is earned.’ But then, I thought, how much does it look like you’re making? There’s a point where acceptance starts to feel like a lie.”
In her editorial, she mentioned that her 13-year-old son, Clay, was against the facelift, insisting that wrinkles are “natural” and that he wouldn’t respect her decision to undergo cosmetic surgery.
Her son’s strong objection made her hesitate, but she ultimately proceeded with the surgery anyway.
“Eventually, I realized if I’m teaching Clay anything, my body shouldn’t be dictated by an idea, even a good one or feminism,” she said reflecting on her choice.
“Because it’s not free yet. It’s just another authority telling you what you can do with your face,” she emphasized.
“I wanted to remain myself, just… not let it dominate me. Now, I’m a slightly more rested and emotionally stable version of myself,” she remarked, known for her candid social media posts that often carry political weight.
After the surgery, she noted that nobody seemed to notice the change.
“I went through a full-on feminist existential crisis and altered my face and neck, and the outcome is… nothing drastic,” she expressed. “Honestly, this is the best possible result. I didn’t disappear or become someone else; I simply stopped arguing with the mirror. And perhaps that’s enough. Or at least, that’s the result of a lower, deep-plane facelift when you’re taking care of yourself.”
However, feelings of guilt soon crept in about her decision.
“I’ve never been fond of secrets. Part of my inclination to share is rooted in the need to confess. But who do I owe this truth to? Is it even mine?”
She also touched on her apprehension regarding the privileges that come from her wealth, stating, “What I possess, as some might characterize, is an excess that burdens me.”
