Rosie O’Donnell performed at the Gotham Comedy Club in New York City on Saturday night, and it sounds like she struggled to stay funny. There are lots of things going on in O’Donnell’s personal life right–more than many people could bear. Trying to write and perform comedy when things don’t feel funny must be an incredibly difficult undertaking.
When you can’t beat your troubles, you find the lightest side of them. That’s what Rosie O’Donnell did in this weekend’s performance. She poked fun at those things that are no doubt causing her the most pain.
“I love all of my kids. My daughter has been in the news. It’s been in the news, but it’s not news to the family,” Entertainment Tonight reports Rosie O’Donnell saying. “It’s been a decade long. As mom, my wish is for love and peace and wait until it’s done.”
“Chelsea just turned 18. For adopted children 18 is a magic number,” Rosie reportedly continued. “At 18 they’re going to rebel any way they can, any way they can get your attention.”
Rosie O'Donnell got candid about her own depression and estranged daughter Chelsea during a gig this weekend: http://t.co/VdW6lkLKPL
— Us Weekly (@usweekly) October 19, 2015
Rosie O’Donnell’s daughter Chelsea has made news recently–first for disappearing from the family’s home in New York. She was discovered shortly thereafter in New Jersey, with a convicted drug dealer she met online.
In Saturday night’s routine, Rosie O’Donnell admitted to her own issues with mental illness.
“I know about mental illness–I have my own,” she said, adding that it began when she was 20 and that she’s now taking antidepressants.
“I thought mental illness was failure of my character, not my chemistry,” she added.
Rosie O'Donnell talks about estranged daughter in stand-up set http://t.co/umAiCxZlHj pic.twitter.com/pYbxBPRIPW
— HuffPostEnt (@HuffPostEnt) October 19, 2015
Rosie O’Donnell also brought up another source of angst she is dealing with–the custody battle with ex-wife Michelle Rounds over two-year-old daughter Dakota.
“After the divorce, my ex-wife spoke to every media outlet,” O’Donnell reportedly said on Saturday. “Can anybody say, ‘Prenup?'”
Rosie O’Donnell recently comforted Rounds after a suicide attempt.
“What has happened with my life?” she asked on Saturday night. “Five months ago I was a married woman and Donald Trump was a reality star. Now my world has blown up. He is the Republican frontrunner, and the zombie apocalypse is upon us.”
Just imagine experiencing all Rosie O’Donnell is presently going through. Now imagine standing up in front of an audience and making light of it all.
Hopefully Rosie O’Donnell is getting some therapy to go along with those antidepressants. Hers are shoes no one would choose to walk in right now.