"I don’t want to fight against another gay woman" — Rosie O’Donnell talks about her past tension with Ellen DeGeneres

Comedian and actress Rosie O’Donnell opened up about her friendship with Ellen DeGeneres in an exclusive interview with US Weekly, published on April 22, 2025. Rosie relocated to Ireland recently but has yet to get her citizenship.

Speaking to the news outlet, she said she wasn’t in touch with Ellen. Highlighting the differences between them, Rosie said:

“I don’t want to fight against another gay woman. It’s not like we’re tenaciously opposed to each other. We’re just very different people. We have had some stuff in the past that we never resolved. And not in any way as, as partners or lovers or anything like that, just as friends and comedians, but I wish her the best. I seriously do.”

Rosie O’Donnell thought that there was enough opportunity for all comedians who are gay. She emphasized how important it is for them to be united. She felt that the LGBTQIA+ community, especially gay individuals, were targeted more, besides transgender people, which she found to be concerning.

According to her, it was crucial to recognize trans individuals as an essential part of the community, stressing the need to support and protect the most vulnerable members.

Rosie O'Donnell said she was surprised that Ellen DeGeneres' departure was linked to President Trump and found that unexpected.

Rosie explained that she had always been open about her political views, which was her way of moving through the world. Although she and Ellen DeGeneres weren’t part of each other’s lives, and their relationship had been awkward, she still wished Ellen peace, love, and well-being.

What happened between Rosie O’Donnell and Ellen DeGeneres?

In 2022, Rosie O’Donnell was a guest on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, where a fan asked why she never appeared as a guest on Ellen’s show. However, Ellen DeGeneres appeared on Rosie’s show in 1996.

According to Entertainment Tonight, during the show Ellen came out as “Lebanese” before revealing her queer identity in her own sitcom. As seen in the footage from 1996, Ellen DeGeneres said:

“I don't know how this leaked out either because we were really trying to build this up slowly and reveal it in a way that would be you know just change people's opinions basically. We do find out that the character is Lebanese.”

At that moment, the crowd burst into laughter while Rosie asked:

“Just out of the blue?”

Ellen DeGeneres explained that there had been hints all along, and anyone who had watched the show would have noticed, like seeing the character eat baba ghanoush.

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Rosie O'Donnell reiterated the awkward turn in their friendship. After Rosie's show ended and Ellen’s was starting, Ellen was invited on Larry King’s show. When Larry mentioned Rosie, saying her show had ended and she disappeared, Ellen responded by saying she didn’t know Rosie and they weren’t friends.

Rosie admitted that the comment hurt her feelings, and she never fully got past it. She was invited to Ellen’s show once toward the end, but didn’t go for personal reasons.

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