Rosie O’Donnell’s recent prison visit to her daughter Chelsea allowed them to have their first lengthy conversation in a decade and their first proper meeting in years.
Rosie O’Donnell’s recent prison visit to her daughter Chelsea allowed them to have their first lengthy conversation in a decade.
The A League of Their Own actress recently spoke about going to see 28-year-old Chelsea – who was arrested three times in 2024 and ultimately pleaded guilty to bail jumping, possessing methamphetamine and resisting or obstructing an officer – behind bars and she’s now opened up further about their meeting and her hopes it will help them build a stronger relationship.
She told the New York Post newspaper’s Page Six column: “That was the first conversation I’ve had with her in 10 years that lasted more than 25 minutes.
“The first time that I saw her in a consistent way was the four hours in the prison.”
Sadly, the visit was cut short due to a tornado warning, prompting tears from Chelsea.
Rosie noted: “That’s the first time I’ve seen, kind of, an empathetic emotion from her.”
“So, you know, she’s growing up, and I hope that her future is brighter than this past decade has been.”
The 64-year-old star is proud of the progress her daughter is making in turning her life around.
She said: “[She has been sober for] almost two years now and that’s a very big part, you know; she was born addicted, and when I was adopting, I thought, ‘Well, love can cure everything,’ but I don’t know that that’s true.”
And Rosie’s relationship with Chelsea will be explored in her next one-woman show, with her daughter’s blessing.
She said: “I’ve asked for Chelsea’s input.
“I sent it to her and said, ‘I’d really love to get you — your voice heard and just now what I perceive to be your voice … and I think she’s ready to do that now.”
Rosie – who also has Parker, 31, Blake, 26, Vivi, 23, and 13-year-old Clay – had detailed her visit to Chelsea in a poem titled Before and After shared on her substack account.
She wrote in part: “I’m going to visit her soon. I have tried to prepare myself. I know it will be difficult. But I must.
“As she asked me to. A first for her at 28 years old. I can do hard things. And so can she.”
Rosie noted getting sober has helped Chelsea and their relationship “so much” and she warned her daughter she would likely get emotional at the visit.
She wrote: “I told her I may cry when I see her. There in prison clothes “Why mom – it’s not bad in here – I have friends now”.
“Hard to hear – but good to know. She’s somehow not suffering. Making the best of it. Getting thru.”
The second half of the poem then detailed the planned four-hour visit – for which Rosie noted she was warned not to give her daughter money, keep her voice down, hands over the table and no more physical contact than a “hug hello and goodbye only”.
She wrote: “We all wait. Chelsea comes in first. My heart skips a beat. She looks good.
“Healthy calm. Rested blue eyes. Clear skin. In her green uniform.
“We embrace. She smells familiar. holds on tight. I stare into her eyes.”
As she had predicted, Rosie couldn’t help but cry.
She wrote: “I go splash cold water. On my face. As tears drop from my eyes. I try to shake the sadness.
“It’s hard enough for her … She turns 29 this summer. And all I see when I look at her. Is a blonde baby in diapers.”
Rosie O’Donnell had first lengthy conversation with daughter in a decade during prison visit
