Rosie O’Donnell is mending her relationship with her daughter, Chelsea. After being estranged for a decade, a new update from O’Donnell reveals that the two have reconnected as her daughter completes her jail sentence. She’s currently completing an 18-month sentence in Wisconsin.
In a post shared on Instagram, O’Donnell shared a photo of herself and Chelsea from years ago, showing the two hugging and holding on to each other. The following photo is a screenshot that shows a text exchange between the two.
“Thank you mom I got my music back today. How are you? I’m trying to get ahold of the social worker to let her know the plans for when I get out, Hannah texted her for me,” reads Chelsea’s message.
“Ok great – got my nails done – no more gel for me my nails are ruined/ Are u reading a good book?” replied O’Donnell.
“I am reading the legacy series its really good she has a bunch of other books too. And yeah I havnt painted my nails in years but I remember that stuff breaking my nails.”
More details about O’Donnell’s family
O’Donnell has five kids: Parker, Chelsea, Blake, Vivienne, and Clay. She shares the first four with her ex-wife, Kelli Carpenter, and Clay with her late ex-wife Michelle Rounds.
Chelsea was adopted by O’Donnell and Carpenter when she was a baby, with her having clashes with her parents at different points in her life. In 2015, it was reported that Chelsea went missing from her home in New York.
“Chelsea made a decision when she turned 18 that she wanted to go to her birth mother. This was her choice,” said an O’Donnell representative to PEOPLE at the time.
© Bruce GlikasTwo years later, Chelsea spoke about her split from her family, specifically O’Donnell. “Growing up, I never really got along with her and then once she kicked me out, I was just kind of done,” she said in an interview with Inside Edition. “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.”
She has struggled with drug addiction throughout her life. In 2025, she pleaded guilty to charges of resisting or obstructing an officer and possessing drugs, and was sentenced to six months of probation. Her probation was revoked, and she was ultimately sentenced to prison time.
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