It’s been a little over a year since Rosie O’Donnell’s representative confirmed that she and her wife Michelle Rounds were separated, and now we’re learning that the divorce is finalized.
According to E! O’Donnell and Rounds’ lawyers met at a Manhattan Supreme Court to finalize the paperwork. O’Donnell’s rep said of the divorce, “The divorce is finalized, this is just a formality for the paperwork to be submitted.”
There were hints that O’Donnell was having problems at home, when she left The View for the second time. She had cited that she needed to leave The View to focus on her family, as there was a lot of stress building up in both areas of her life — both personally and professionally. A survivor of a usually fatal “widow maker” heart attack, O’Donnell’s doctor advised her to lessen the stress in her life, so her heart wouldn’t suffer.
The announcement of her divorce came right after the news that O’Donnell was departing The View. At the time, O’Donnell’s rep, Cindi Berger, said the following.
“I can confirm that Rosie and her wife Michelle split in November. Rosie has teens and an infant at home that need her attention. This has been a very stressful situation. She is putting her personal health and family first.”
Rosie O’Donnell and Michelle Rounds have finalized their divorce: https://t.co/fcpx8xLiyc pic.twitter.com/Js64349un8
— E! Online (@eonline) March 30, 2016
In October of 2015, the two reached a settlement , with O’Donnell joking about the current stage of her broken marriage.
“It’s done. We’ve settled. We’re both very happy about the outcome.”
The two share an adoptive daughter, Dakota, whom they adopted in 2013. From Rosie’s Instagram, it seems like Dakota lives with her.
Rosie O’Donnell finalizes divorce from 2nd wife Michelle Rounds after filing 13 months ago https://t.co/sk9pXewS0Y pic.twitter.com/gnUyaN90NZ
— Daily Mail Celebrity (@DailyMailCeleb) March 30, 2016
O’Donnell hasn’t had an easy time as of late. The former View host is going through an estranged relationship with her adoptive daughter Chelsea. O’Donnell’s daughter Chelsea ran away to live with her much older boyfriend in New Jersey. Said boyfriend has a history with the law. Chelsea went on to bash her mother’s parenting skills, and other private matters.
In an interview with Inside Edition , Chelsea said, “I miss the rest of my family a lot but I think there is some much-needed space between me and Rosie. It’s been nice having that.”
O’Donnell’s daughter hints of neglect, telling the entertainment news program.
She continued as follows.
“Rosie would prefer to stay home and watch her shows and kind of do her thing. But on the weekends, my siblings and I would want to go out. My sister [Vivienne] would want to go to the mall or I’d want to get coffee. Rosie wouldn’t want to drive us but there was always someone there to help.”
Rosie O’Donnell speaks out about daughter chelsea: She’s “in a crisis.” https://t.co/SOAqrr83S5 (via @etnow ) pic.twitter.com/lEkkMC2w0O
— mtnview84 (@mtnview84) February 10, 2016
Rosie O’Donnell addressed her daughter’s public disappearance and subsequent rescue. “My daughter has been in the news. It’s been in the news, but it’s not news to the family. It’s been a decade long. As Mom, my wish is for love and peace and wait until it’s done.” The star also said that Chelsea is suffering from a mental illness.
Later on, O’Donnell’s rep called the situation “heartbreaking on every level.”
As for her troubles in love, this is O’Donnell’s second divorce. Her first was with Kelli Carpenter, who she was in a relationship with for years, and later married in 2004. The two share custody of three children, Chelsea, Blake, and Vivienne, who Carpenter had through artificial insemination.
O’Donnell’s oldest son Parker, was her sole adoption.
[Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images]