Rosie O'Donnell Shares Poem After Visiting Daughter Chelsea in Prison

Rosie O’Donnell Reveals Why She Decided to Share Her Facelift With the World

Rosie O’Donnell is not hiding her struggles.

Over six months after the Now and Then actress’ daughter Chelsea Belle O’Donnell had her probation revoked for multiple felony charges and was sent to prison, she shared a vulnerable look into her feelings through a poem she titled “the visit."

“Been over a week / I haven’t heard from her,” Rosie wrote in a June 12 post on Substack. “Not normal / she was moved to prison—from jail.”

In October, Chelsea—who Rosie adopted alongside ex Kelli Carpenter in 1997—had her probation revoked and was sentenced to jail after she pleaded guilty to one charge of possession of methamphetamine, one count of resisting or obstructing an officer and one count of bail jumping following three separate arrests in 2024.

At the time, Rosie confirmed her daughter’s arrest and noted in her latest post that “families suffer when a loved one is locked up.”

And the 64-year-old—also mom to Parker O’Donnell, 31, Blake O’Donnell, 26, and Vivienne O’Donnell, 23, with Kelli, as well as Clay O’Donnell, 12, with her late ex Michelle Rounds—exemplified the hardships she herself is experiencing.

“For months she’s in lockdown / 23 hours a day / 24 mins of sun,” Rosie continued. “But she must shower then too. / I feel like I’m in a movie / someone else’s kid / someone else’s life / I answer the phone.”

Detailing the “heartbreaking” situation of her daughter’s time in prison, Rosie also acknowledged that her latest visit felt more hopeful than expected.

“Come what may / I’m ur mom / I will walk beside u / Help and guide u,” Rosie continued. “She’s not fighting it anymore / The relationship we have / Her sobriety helps me so much / Gives me hope.”

Nevertheless, Rosie acknowledged that hope can only go so far for the loved one of someone struggling with addiction, adding, “The rollercoaster never ends.”

Bruce Glikas/Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

“She calls daily / We have gotten closer / Thru these tense times / And I’m grateful for that,” Rosie continued. “That she’s alive / Looking forward to her release. Planning her post prison journey / Drug free.”

Noting that Chelsea—a mom of four—is “dreaming of peace” and hoping to make amends with her kids, Rosie added, “For the first time / As am I.”

Later in the poem, Rosie detailed a visit to see her daughter at Taycheedah Correctional Institution in Wisconsin.

“Chelsea comes in first / My heart skips a beat / She looks good,” Rosie recalled. “Healthy calm / Rested blue eyes / Clear skin / In her green uniform.”

The former The View host also shared insight into her feelings after the visit with her daughter.

“It storms all the way to the hotel / As I try to process / All that’s happened / It was a big day for both of us,” Rosie noted. “Unconditional love / Simply the only way / Thru motherhood / Love and forgiveness a must.”

For more stars who have shared insight into their addiction struggles and sobriety journeys, keep reading…

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