Rosie O’Donnell has lifted the lid on her rollercoaster relationship with Ellen DeGeneres, after they both fled America.
The comedians have known each other for decades, having worked in a close industry, but things became strained in their friendship at one point, and they went their separate ways.
However, the pair have both ended up leaving the US in recent months following President Donald Trump’s return to office – with Ellen, 67, and wife Portia de Rossi upping sticks for a life in the Cotswolds.
Meanwhile, Rosie, 62, settled into a new life in Ireland with her 12-year-old child, Clay, and declared that she would only consider returning when ‘it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights’.
During a new interview, she shared her shock over her fellow TV star’s decision to also relocate due to the political situation unfolding across the US, and where they both stand now.
‘I’ve never really known Ellen to say anything political in her life, so I was surprised to read that she left because of President Trump. That shocked me, actually,’ she told Us Weekly.
‘I’ve been a political person my whole life, not better or worse, it’s just a different way to be in the world. I was very clear about the reason why I was leaving, and I don’t think it came as a surprise to anyone.
‘We’re not really in each other’s worlds, and it’s been kind of awkward but you know what? I wish her the best. I wish that she has peace and love in her life, and that she is okay.’
‘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,’ Rosie insisted.
‘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.
‘I think that there’s enough room in the world for all of the gay comedians, and we all need to stick together because gay people are the next group to be threatened. And the way they attack trans people is absolutely terrifying.’
Following Trump’s return to office in January, the former host of the View confirmed her decision to leave the US for his second term – stating she made the move for her family, and her ‘own sanity’.
She has settled down in Dublin with Clay, but her other children, Parker, Blake, Chelsea and Vivienne, are yet to join them.
Despite a huge change, she has raved about the move, describing it as a ‘wonderful’ experience for herself and Clay.
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This isn’t the first time Rosie has delved into her strained connection with Ellen over the years.
The stars previously had a close friendship and ran in the same circle – in a 2023 interview with the Hollywood Reporter, she recalled partying together when they first kicked off their respective careers in Hollywood.
Despite this closeness, she was left hurt when her pal appeared on Larry King Live and claimed they weren’t friends.
‘It was a good relationship. We were friends. We supported each other,’ she told the outlet, reflecting on Ellen’s decision to publicly come out. ‘It became a strange, “There can’t be two lesbians in this town,” kind of a thing. Then we each had success and went separate ways.
‘But we’ve had our weirdness in our relationship. I don’t know if it’s jealousy, competition or the fact that she said a mean thing about me once that really hurt my feelings.
‘She said it on Larry King Live. Larry King said, “Whatever happened to Rosie O’Donnell’s show? She went down the tubes as soon as she came out.” And the quote that Ellen said was, “I don’t know Rosie. We’re not friends.” I was watching TV in bed with my wife going, “Did she just say that?”
‘It would never occur to me to say “I don’t know her” about somebody whose babies I held when they were born. It wouldn’t be in my lexicon of choices to ever say.’
Metro has contacted Ellen’s reps for a comment.
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