Rosie O’Donnell recently shared her emotional experience about her fallout with Ellen DeGeneres on the “No Filter” podcast. This moment occurred back in 2004 when DeGeneres was a guest on “Larry King Live.” During the interview, she told King, “I don’t know, Rosie. We’re not friends,” which deeply hurt O’Donnell.
The two had a long history, spanning three decades. O’Donnell even shared that she had photos of DeGeneres holding her children. The friendship soured when O’Donnell, who had stepped back from her own show to focus on family, felt sidelined as DeGeneres’s new talk show took off without her support.
O’Donnell expressed her disappointment, saying that instead of standing with her, DeGeneres seemed to prioritize her own success. She was later invited on DeGeneres’s show, but only after it had already gained popularity, leaving O’Donnell feeling overlooked.
In an interview in 2023, O’Donnell revealed that DeGeneres did reach out to apologize for their past issues. Reflecting on the past, O’Donnell said, “When she came out, I felt strongly I didn’t want to leave her out there alone.”
The significance of DeGeneres coming out as gay on her sitcom in 1997 marked a pivotal moment in television history. It sparked conversations about identity, representation, and the pressures of public life. O’Donnell mentioned how this moment had ripple effects, urging people to reassess their own identities.
Studies show that representation in media can positively influence public perceptions and acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals. For instance, a 2020 survey found that 76% of LGBTQ+ respondents reported feeling more accepted because of increased visibility in media. O’Donnell and DeGeneres were among those who played a role in that visibility.
O’Donnell’s reflections on their friendship highlight the complexity of relationships in Hollywood, where personal and professional lives often intertwine.
In the end, their story serves as a reminder about the impact of support and solidarity among peers, especially in challenging times. As O’Donnell put it, she couldn’t abandon DeGeneres during her critical moment, and it’s a sentiment that resonates in the ongoing conversation about friendship and loyalty in the spotlight.
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