Rosie O'Donnell's Estranged Daughter Speaks Out, Calls Her Mother's Actions 'Unforgivable'
Rosie and Chelsea O’Donnell before the rift (Getty Images)
We really hope this family feud between Rosie O'Donnell and her daughter Chelsea has a peaceful resolution.
Over two months after the comedian sought assistance from the public to help find her missing teen daughter, who had run away to live with a boyfriend she met online, the women seem far from rapprochement. The 18-year-old, whom Rosie adopted as a baby, issued a lengthy statement to the press on Thursday to let her own voice be heard and clear up misconceptions about her mental state, but she also included a dig at her adoptive mother.
“So many things I have said have been cut or distorted for the media hype of two interviews I have done and I want to clear the air from my own voice,” Chelsea said in a statement, which she asked be posted in its entirety, released by her spokesperson to Entertainment Tonight. “Am I hurt for the things that have been said about me? Yes! I never grew up and chose to be a ‘public figure,’ and my goal has and never will be to be on TV or in print unless as a model. So anyone speaking untruth about me personally and my life, led me to my own voice.
"What most don’t seem to understand is that I am so grateful to have been adopted and I love my siblings dearly and miss them everyday. I support several adoption agencies today proudly. Just like many 18-year-olds, I am simply just trying to find my OWN identity through life and that hasn’t been easy a lot of times always being in the public eye as a child, and not by choice.
"Do I have a mental illness? No, but I do have a disease I suffer from and it is called depression and another called anxiety, like so many millions of others out there. When I turned a certain age I had a deep desire to know where I came from at birth and what my biological family looked like and were from, so I did that and although I was disappointed, I am glad to have closure on that part of my life and I have no desires to continue a relationship with the woman who gave birth to me.
"Today, I am trying to heal deep settled wounds and continue on with my high school education I was unable to finish and go to college to do great things in my life.
"It amazes me how many are so quick to want to judge me, yet have never lived in my shoes. I don’t need a mansion or a million dollars to make me content or happy. I am humble enough to work at Walmart if it were necessary.
"Finally, a part of my heart will always care for Rosie, but many things she has done to me over the past few months are unforgivable at the present. Some things just take time, if ever. Everything further personally will be handled via me and my family alone and not publicly, unless necessary.
"Peace and Love, Chelsea O'Donnell.”
The most notable part of Chelsea’s statement, of course, is what she says about Rosie, who has been posting about the saga on social media. Chelsea offers some kind words (“always care for Rosie”), but then follows that with a jab (“many things she has done to me over the past few months are unforgivable at the present”).
A recent selfie of Chelsea (Instagram)
Chelsea has been living with her 25-year-old boyfriend, Steven Sheerer, an alleged heroin addict, in New Jersey since she left Rosie’s Nyack, New York, compound in August. Sheerer, whom she met online, was arrested for endangering the welfare of a child, among other charges, because Chelsea was under 18 at the time. At one point, Chelsea briefly went to stay with her birth mother, which she spoke about in an interview with the Daily Mail, but apparently that relationship didn’t blossom per her comment about having “no desires to continue a relationship with the woman who gave birth to me.” (Her birth mother also struggled with drug addiction, which is why she gave up Chelsea.)
Finally, Chelsea wants it to be known that she is not mentally ill, which Rosie claimed when the girl was missing. Chelsea admits that she suffers from depression and anxiety, but doesn’t want that label slapped on her — and rightfully so.
As far as Rosie’s reaction to Chelsea’s new statement, she really hasn’t given one yet about the “unforgivable” line. According to Twitter, the former moderator of The View is more worked up that Chelsea has a spokesperson — a man named Jonathan Jaxson — who has a history of glomming onto celebrities in crisis, like Amanda Bynes. Rosie posted several things to Twitter warning him to stay away from her daughter.
Rosie has frequently used social media as a way to reach her daughter. Earlier this week, she stepped out with her four other children, but made sure to tweet that one of her kids wasn’t there. Chelsea too has used it, asking her followers to stop telling her everything Rosie is doing.
Maybe it’s time to put down the mobile devices — walk away from the desktop devices — and sit down together to try to sort this thing out. As it stands right now, it’s all pretty sad from where we’re sitting.
