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What has Rosie O’Donnell been up to? From her surprise friendship with Michael D. Cohen, and her ongoing feud with Donald Trump amid his trial, to a Sex and the City appearance and new TikTok-based show
STORYLynn Farah
![Rosie O’Donnell attends the opening night performance of A Transparent Musical in California, in May 2023. Photo: Getty Images](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/768x768/public/d8/images/canvas/2024/05/24/d48c7b31-859d-4244-a518-004eb59b6d19_f684a0a0.jpg?itok=L7uNZQ1P&v=1716538368)
- Comedian and actress Rosie O’Donnell, 62, shot to fame in films like A League of Their Own and The Flintstones, but it was her time as a host on chat show The View that made her a household name
- These days, she’s better known for her bitter feud with ex president Trump and recently made headlines for supporting his former fixer – but she plans to flex her acting chops again in new gigs
Over a career that’s spanned more than 30 years, Rosie O’Donnell made the world laugh and cry as one of Hollywood’s go-to comedians and actresses. She was perhaps best known for appearances in TV shows and films like A League of Their Own, The Flintstones and Web Therapy.
More recently though, O’Donnell has gained a reputation for her off-screen comments that have stirred feuds and controversy, than for her accolades. In particular, her bitter relationship with former US president Donald Trump – that stretches back several decades – continues to make headlines. As the world watches Trump’s hush-money trial play out in New York, O’Donnell has once again become an outspoken critic of the politician – and a surprising supporter of his former fixer, Michael D. Cohen.
Here’s how O’Donnell’s links to Trump are keeping her in the news.
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How did Rosie O’Donnell strike up a friendship with Donald Trump’s former fixer, Michael D. Cohen?
O’Donnell, 62, has made headlines in recent weeks because of her surprise friendship with Cohen, the man once known as the former president’s fixer. Cohen first started working with Trump as a special counsel in 2007, and continued to do so for more than a decade, per the BBC. It was also Cohen, according to The New York Times, who once helped Trump carry out his attacks against O’Donnell during their feud.
But when Cohen took to the stand in a Manhattan courtroom earlier this month to testify against Trump in the former president’s hush-money trial, it was a message from O’Donnell that offered support, reports the same source. “Breathe – relax – tell the truth – you got this – I love you,” read the message.
Per the publication, O’Donnell wrote to Cohen after he was jailed for tax evasion and campaign finance violations, saying she forgave him for his part in Trump’s vicious campaigns against her. It was this letter that began a strong friendship between the pair.
What started the feud between Rosie O’Donnell and Donald Trump?
![Rosie O’Donnell (left) and Oprah Winfrey speak to the media to promote O’Donnell’s Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) show, The Rosie Show. Photo: AP Photo Rosie O’Donnell (left) and Oprah Winfrey speak to the media to promote O’Donnell’s Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) show, The Rosie Show. Photo: AP Photo](https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/05/24/434e85f3-a7bd-49e0-9f9c-3ceff90ddbec_e4a6b80a.jpg)
The long-standing war between Trump and O’Donnell is certainly no secret. Both have been outspoken about their dislike of each other. But just how did it all start? As reported by The New York Times, O’Donnell’s initial dislike of the former president began in 1991 while she was filming A League of Their Own with Madonna. According to the publication, during filming, reports emerged that the singer had been on a date with Trump. However, she told O’Donnell that the reports were false and that “Mr Trump had simply made up the story for publicity.”
![Former president Donald Trump arrives at the Manhattan criminal court in New York for his hush-money trial earlier this month. Photo: AP Photo Former president Donald Trump arrives at the Manhattan criminal court in New York for his hush-money trial earlier this month. Photo: AP Photo](https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/05/24/7dc0e9c5-87fa-48c0-bc2e-d0ed7fd68837_c4d44d40.jpg)