Brainroom: Timeline of Rosie O'Donnell Controversies

A timeline of controversies involving Rosie O'Donnell:

Dec. 20, 2006 — O'Donnell vs. The Donald

Rosie says the billionaire's news conference with Miss USA Tara Conner, whose title was in jeopardy because of alleged wild partying, had annoyed her "on a multitude of levels" and that the twice-divorced Donald had no right to be a "moral compass" for the beauty queen.

Source: "The Donald and Rosie Escalate Their Feud," AP, 12/21/06

Dec. 5, 2006 — Rosie Offends Asians

O'Donnell jokes about how actor Danny DeVito's recent appearance on "The View" has become international news, saying, "You know, you can imagine in China it's like 'ching-chong, ching-chong-chong, Danny DeVito, ching-chong-chong-chong, drunk, 'The View,' ching-chong.'"

Source: "Rosie Says She's Sorry for Mocking Spoken Chinese on 'The View,' but One Group Isn't Satisfied," AP, 12/14/06

Sept. 12, 2006 — Rosie Compares Christians to Islamists

Rosie says radical Christians are as big a danger as radical Islam. On "The View," she says, "Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam in a country like America where we have separation of church and state."

Source: "Rosie's Rant Won't Work in Wheaton," Chicago Tribune, 9/18/06

Feb. 26, 2004 — Rosie's Gay Marriage

In the brief period when same-sex couples were allowed to marry in San Francisco, Rosie weds her partner of six years Kelli Carpenter.

Source: Facts on File, "People in the News," 02/26/2004

Oct. 1, 2002 — Rosie's Magazine Goes Down in Flames

Publisher Gruner + Jahr sues O'Donnell for $100 million for quitting Rosie magazine. In November 2003, a judge rules neither side would be awarded any damages. During the trial, a Rosie staffer and cancer survivor testifies that Rosie had suggested she was lying about goings-on at the magazine and told her that liars get cancer.

Sources: Facts on File, "Cancer Survivor: Rosie O'Donnell Told Me Liars Get Cancer," AP, 11/5/03

March 14, 2002 — Rosie Comes Out of the Closet

Rosie gives her first interview about being gay on ABC's "Primetime Live." She tells Diane Sawyer that being gay "was never a big deal for me." She also says she wants to speak out against a Florida law banning adoption of children by gay parents.

Source: "Rosie O'Donnell Says Being Gay Was 'Never a Big Deal for Me'," AP, 3/13/02

May 25, 2000 — Rosie's Bodyguard Gets Strapped

Newspaper reports that O'Donnell's bodyguard has applied for a gun permit. She defends herself by saying, "The security people who work in my home do not have guns. The statistic is that you're three times more likely to be a victim of violence if you own a gun. That's why I choose not to have them in my home. But in public places, my security people, who are off-duty policemen, have guns."

Source: "Rosie O'Donnell, Political Activist," National Review, June 19, 2000

May 19, 1999 — Rosie "Ambushes" Tom Selleck

In an aggressive interview with the former "Magnum P.I." star on her talk show, O'Donnell says, "You can't say 'I will not take responsibility for anything the NRA represents' if you're doing an ad for the NRA. You can't say that. Do you think you can?"

Source: "O'Donnell, Selleck Talk Gun Control," AP, 5/19/1999

April 21, 1999 — Rosie Takes on the NRA

On "Live with Regis & Kathie Lee," O'Donnell says Charlton Heston advocates guns and "the violence they perpetrate on America's kids."

Source: "Weeping Rosie Rips Heston on Guns," New York Daily News, 4/22/1999