Rosie O’Donnell is celebrating her daughter Chelsea O’Donnell’s wins — both big and small — amid her ongoing sobriety journey.
“Another great day in sobriety !!!! #chelsea,” Rosie, 63, wrote via Instagram on Tuesday, May 13, sharing a photo of Chelsea, 27, standing proudly at a podium.
Chelsea was seen smiling as she spoke in front of a small group of people. While Rosie didn’t give any further details about where her daughter was or exactly what she was doing in the picture, fans were quick to applaud Chelsea’s happy appearance after a few rocky months.
In September 2024, Chelsea was arrested on felony child neglect — she is the mother of four — and drug possession charges in Wisconsin, to which she pleaded not guilty. She was released on bond but one month later was arrested on additional felony drug and bail-jumping charges.
“Chelsea is in the news today — this is a photo from a better time — here is the family comment: Sadly this is not new for our family — Chelsea has struggled with drug addiction for a decade — we r all hopeful she will find her way out of this deadly disease #💔 #love #alanon,” Rosie wrote via Instagram in October 2024, sharing a throwback picture of her eldest daughter.
Prior to being bailed out by her biological mom, Deanna Micoley, Chelsea publicly slammed Rosie, claiming in November 2024 that Rosie refused to help. “When I called Rosie to ask her to bail me out, she told me flat out, ‘You belong in there,’” Chelsea alleged during an interview with the Daily Mail. “She said: ‘I really can’t help you get out of there; I don’t want you to kill yourself. I don’t want to be responsible for you killing yourself.’”
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Later that month, Chelsea was arrested for a third time. Us Weekly confirmed in November 2024 that Chelsea was a passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over due to loud exhaust.
When the police officer ran Chelsea’s information, they discovered she was out on bail for previous drug cases. During a search of the vehicle and her person, Chelsea was found with a “clear smoking device” in her bra, which tested positive for methamphetamine, according to court docs.
“After being bailed out by her birth mother — Chelsea was arrested again — and is facing many charges related to her drug addiction,” Rosie confirmed via Instagram in December 2024, adding, “We all hope she is able to get the help she needs to turn her life around.” Following the arrest, Chelsea was ordered to maintain her sobriety while out on bail.
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Chelsea is one of Rosie’s five children. The Harriet the Spy actress adopted Chelsea, who was born in 1997, as an infant with then-wife Kelli Carpenter. Chelsea joined big brother Parker O’Donnell, who was born and adopted by Rosie in 1995, before Carpenter also legally adopted him.
Rosie and Carpenter, 57, adopted son Blake O’Donnell in 1999 and daughter Vivienne O’Donnell in 2002 before calling it quits in 2004.
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Rosie welcomed her fifth child, Clay, in January 2013 with then-wife Michelle Rounds. Two years after Clay’s adoption, Rosie and Rounds divorced. (Rosie currently lives in Ireland with Clay. Rounds died by apparent suicide in September 2017 at age 46.)
Earlier this month, Rosie gave fans another glimpse at Chelsea’s new life. “Chelsea at her new gig as a painter #🧑🎨 of ships — hard work #keeponkeepingon,” the comedian captioned the Monday, May 12, photo via social media.
After receiving an outpouring of love from her followers over the life update, Rosie added, “These replies made me 😢 thank u all.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
