Rosie's Rant: Sputtering in Rage in Interview with Couric

The Today Show

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Rosie O'Donnell just completed an appearance with Katie Couric on The Today Show that might well go down as one of the angriest, most vituperative displays in the annals of morning TV.

The interview took place in the context of the multimillion dollar lawsuit that the publishers of the "Rosie" magazine brought against her.

Katie tiptoed around, clearly uncomfortable asking Rosie tough questions. But to her credit, Katie had done her homework and did indeed ask some tough ones.

Thus, for example, when Rosie bitterly complained that the magazine refused to put a photo of the paraplegic Christopher Reeve on the cover, Katie piped up to say: "I understand that the photo was five years old, taken from far away, and not deemed appropriate."

Rosie was so clearly angry, barely able to control her rage, aimed at anyone, including Katie. Referring to some issue that had arisen on a TV show, Rosie accusingly asked Katie: "did you WATCH the show?"

Rosie was furious about the publisher discounting the magazine's subscription rate. Just a detail, but her rage was so evident.

Katie reading from lawsuit: "through summer of 2002 Rosie and entourage became increasingly abusive . . . and Rosie said she would personally 'take down' magazine unless she had total control."

Rosie naturally denied it.

In perhaps the most remarkable segment, Rosie bragged: "I have Mary Jo White as my attorney. Do you know who she is?"

Katie: "Yes. But please tell our viewers."

Rosie: "She is the #1 woman lawyer in the country. I told my people, get me the best WOMAN lawyer!"

Katie: "What of charge you were abusive?"

Rosie: "It's absurd. You know me."

Katie stuck to her journalistic guns: "In fairness I haven't worked with you."

Rosie then bragged: "I employ thousands, hundreds, of people. I'm the CEO." The implication was that as a big, powerful, important person with lots of employees, she was entitled to be very demanding and abusive.

"Come on, Katie, it's like, if you send someone out for a tuna fish sandwich on rye with no seeds, all of a sudden you're abusive."

Rosie: "I'm definitely bringing a countersuit and donating all proceeds to charity. This is about integrity. I am too strong to let people get away with this."

Katie: "Do you think, in explaining all the negative press about you in recent times, that there's an undercurent of discrimination against you because you came out as a lesbian?"

Rosie: "No. I'm getting more support than ever. 65-yr. old women at the hairdressers hug me and tell me how proud they are of me."

Just one, non-stop furious rant.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Posting expertise question: how do you get the accent mark in cliché?

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I just copied and pasted yours, wouldn't know how to do it on my own.

[NautiNurse]

Caught the fat one on O'Reilly last night. He sure does treat her with kid gloves. Maybe he is trying to kill her with kindness...

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Hmm, what's not to love about an "angry, crabby power woman"? Yeah, that's how most of us guys like our women.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Based on her threatening appearance with Katie, it is very plausible to imagine that O'Reilly was in fear of his life.

[Petronski]

Not gracefully. I go to Microsoft Word, and use Insert | Symbol...

Then I select the symbol I need, then cut and paste back to explorer. Awkward but effective.

[azhenfud]

"Come on, Katie, it's like, if you send someone out for a tuna fish sandwich ..."

I bet she's sent out for quite a few of these.

Now that would be abusive...

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Thanks. Impressive dedication to high posting standards!

[cricket]

["Katie: "What of charge you were abusive?"

What? Is she channeling Master Po here?

"Ah young water buffalo. What of charge you were fat loudmouth lesbian?" ?"]

. . .bump for a great laugh; and wisdom worth repeating. . .

[two23]

"Caught the fat one on O'Reilly last night. He sure does treat her with kid gloves. Maybe he is trying to kill her with kindness...

Nope..O'Reilly supports gay adoption and in an interview a few month's ago (with her)..he pretty much felt she is a good representitive for gay adoption. Sometimes Bill can be a disappointment....

[netmilsmom]

She already came out saying that her Irish/Catholic father abused her. I can tell you coming from a set of Irish/Catholic and Polish/Catholic parents, if one wants to be a victim, one can find the "Tough Love" of passionate parents to be abuse. I give them credit for sticking it out, toughening up and trying to make us the best we could be. Rosie took the "pity me" stance. She needs some nice Lithium on her Cheerios in the morning.
But please don't pull a liberal on Linda Tripp on this wacko. She has enough to target without making fun of her weight. Geez, most lesibians are overweight and depressed. No need to point out the obvious. We have enough fuel for the fire that we don't have to do the liberal insult instead of looking at the facts.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

In all fairness to Rosie, you have many errors in your statement. I have not followed this story from the begining, however, I do have to side with Rosie after what I saw of the interview this am. ( I was just flipping through... not a regular of Katie's)

I used to be a fan of Rosie... then the whole Babs/Hitlerly thing... so I said no more Rosie.

To me the point is that the Media is being bias here ,and whether Rosie is a liberal or a conservative it is wrong. I agree with Rosie's statement that a second party can not own another persons name, unless they have a contract that states just that she sold her name and likness. I agree with you that Rosie is a bit out of control and shows her anger easily, but I would be mad as well, so I can really fault her on that.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

I do not watch the show and can't stand Rosie, but my wife had it on in the study while she used the computer.

While Rosie was not happy, if you call that a rant, you have lead a very sheltered life.

[sonserae]

I know someone who makes hats for celebrities. They were trying to fit Rosie's head. The lady says she has the fattest head she's ever seen. They had to make custom hats because none would fit. I guess her head is filled with too much anger....and tuna sandwiches.

[ClearCase_guy]

This woman better hire a financial advisor very quickly. She is committing career suicide in amazingly rapid fashion.

I know I am foolishly optimistic, but ... Ellen DeGeneres came out and lost her popularity. Rosie is self-destructing. Daschle seems to be self-destructing. Barbra Streisand is ripped-off by Gephardt. The Dems in general are becoming more and more blatant about circumventing free elections and just shoving their people into office any way they can.

I pray that the entire Leftist establishment implodes and that an era of Conservative dominance begins. Given enough longevity, maybe a new generation of journalists will arise who aren't brain-washed with Left-wing stupidity.

[rockinonritalin]

She goes to a hairdresser?

She goes to a hairdresser that 65 year old women also go to?

[azhenfud]

Wow! That means Rosie wears both hats in her family - all at once!! LOL!

[smiley]

My Gawd....she looks like J. Edgar Hoover...or vice versa

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Well, you are a self-described "curmudgeon", so presumably you have expertise when it comes to rants. But I stand by my position.

I believe it would be clear to most people watching that this was a person seething with rage, and on the brink of losing it. The way that she snapped at Katie, someone she described as having socialized with and who could generally be assumed to be sympathetic, was telling.

[rockinonritalin]

Sounds like Rosie will make a good witness in a trial. With a little questioning from a male lawyer, she'll display her abusive side.