Interesting Things We’ve Learned About Rosie O’Donnell on Her Latest Press Tour

Rosie O’Donnell’s name is back in the headlines, prompting the inevitable question: What on Earth is Rosie O’Donnell up to these days? (Besides Substack poetry).

As it oft happens, the tabloid buzz is the result of a press tour for her new autobiographical solo show, Common Knowledge, which premiered last week for an Off-Broadway run. And over the course of the press tour, which has included some Late Nights, podcasts, a People cover story, and the like, we’ve learned several interesting things about Rosie (because she always keeps things interesting). I might as well keep a running list, for your convenience.

Gloria Estefan used to “moon” her

On an episode of her former View costar Ava Navarro’s podcast, Bleep!, O’Donnell revealed that she used to be neighbors with Gloria Estefan on Miami’s Star Island, where Estefan and her kids would “come by on the boat and moon us.” 

Her facelift cost $90,000

O’Donnell first addressed her facelift in May, when she penned a Substack essay titled “decisions,” in which she laments via quatrains on the choice to undergo the procedure, if it’s “feminist,” etc. In her recent People cover story, she said she decided to go public with the procedure because “I didn’t want to be one of those people who says, ‘Oh, nothing.’ So why do I look like this? $90,000,” she admitted. “I was worried about the cost. I don’t like to waste money. I would never spend that on a car.”

She sometimes rewatches her View fight with Elisabeth Hasselbeck

“Listen, it’s known that me and Elisabeth Hasselbeck did not have a great ending to our friendship, so I would say that was the most problematic [relationship], perhaps,” O’Donnell told People. “But we did get along right up until the end, and then it blew up on national TV. Sometimes I watch that one.” In 2007, O’Donnell and Hasselbeck got into an on-air fight about the Iraq War (which is soooo 2007), which ultimately led to O’Donnell’s departure. “I can’t watch the Streisand one,” she added, “but if the Elisabeth Hasselbeck fight is on, I’m like, ‘Let me try to remember what this felt like.’ You know?”

Seeing Cats: The Jellicle Ball made her “think twice about being gay”

In a recent interview with Theatermania, O’Donnell gave a glowing review of a recent Broadway experience she had: “I went to see Cats: The Jellicle Ball,” she said, “I thought it was so unbelievably brilliant to take the same clay and mold it into a different shape. That Rum Tum Tugger guy made me think twice about being gay. Pulling down his pants and letting us see his cute hiney? Oh, my God.” End quote. No follow-up questions needed. Embroider it. 

Mounjaro changed her life

But she won’t do any commercials for it, because she still thinks it’s too expensive. “I really wish I could do commercials for Mounjaro and they would drop the price instead of paying me,” she told People. “Because when I see people struggling with obesity, I want to say I know the shame that we carry and the humiliation that is dealt to people who are overweight.”

She writes parody songs on TikTok

In response to catching some strays during Trump’s speech at the White House Correspondents Dinner, O’Donnell sang a little song on TikTok in response: “His approval rate is 30 / His diapers always dirty…” I’ll let you watch the rest. It doesn’t begin to compare to “beCOZ I knew you,” but what could?