Rosie O’Donnell Reflects on Friendship Fallout with Ellen DeGeneres

Rosie O’Donnell recently opened up about the painful dissolution of her friendship with Ellen DeGeneres, a split that dates back over 20 years. In a recent appearance on the Mamamia podcast “No Filter,” O’Donnell, 63, shared her feelings surrounding a particular moment on “Larry King Live” in 2004, which she believes marked the end of their friendship.

O’Donnell recounted watching an episode with her then-wife, Kelly Carpenter, during which King asked DeGeneres about the cancellation of “The Rosie O’Donnell Show,” which aired from 1996 to 2002. The response from DeGeneres—“I don’t know Rosie. We’re not friends”—left O’Donnell feeling heartbroken.

“That was one of the most painful experiences in my career,” O’Donnell said, still astonished by DeGeneres’ reaction. She remembered a time when they were close, even showing a photo of DeGeneres cradling her newborn.

Describing the moment as “very upsetting,” O’Donnell noted how she had even worn a t-shirt featuring a quote from DeGeneres, showcasing her support. “It was really painful, and I think we never quite resolved it,” she lamented.

O’Donnell also felt a sense of betrayal when DeGeneres appeared to distance herself, particularly since O’Donnell had supported her during DeGeneres’ famous coming out episode in the 1997 sitcom. She recalled the lighter moments on her show, where DeGeneres made a playful remark linking their characters to Lebanese and lesbian identities, which, at the time, made O’Donnell anxious about her own sexuality.

Although O’Donnell eventually came out as a lesbian in 2002, she expressed that the media landscape was quite different then, and there was a sense of threat surrounding her career. “I felt like this could truly jeopardize my place on such a successful show,” she reflected, while adding that her feelings for DeGeneres hadn’t changed despite the pressures.

Ultimately, O’Donnell opted to leave “The Rosie O’Donnell Show” to focus on her family, despite ample financial incentives to stay. Reflecting on their friendship, she voiced disappointment over DeGeneres denying knowing her, saying, “I couldn’t believe it. Instead of supporting me, she chose to turn away.”

Though O’Donnell has discussed their estrangement before, she noted she has never received an apology from DeGeneres, despite occasional communications from DeGeneres over the years asking why she still talks about the issue. “I think I would have apologized had I been her,” O’Donnell mentioned, hinting at some internal conflict.

“I don’t revisit this for fun,” she added. “It’s more about how intertwined our careers have been. It’s tough to see how we began on parallel paths.”

Efforts to reach out to DeGeneres for her perspective on the matter haven’t been fruitful, as she hasn’t publicly elaborated on her friendship with O’Donnell since the fallout. Nevertheless, DeGeneres did show support for O’Donnell during her confrontation with former President Donald Trump by sharing a screenshot of Trump’s threats and expressing solidarity.