Why Rosie O'Donnell Said She Doesn't 'Trust' Ellen DeGeneres

Rosie O'Donnell has revealed that she is uninterested in rekindling her friendship with Ellen DeGeneres despite receiving an apology. In a recent interview, The 61-year-old expressed a lack of trust in having DeGeneres in her life because of a previous comment the talk show host made on "Larry King Live."

O'Donnell also discussed turning down the role of Mary Sanderson in "Hocus Pocus" due to concerns about perpetuating negative stereotypes while praising Kathy Najimy's performance in the film. 

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Despite receiving an apology from the former talk show host, Rosie O'Donnell is not seeking to rekindle her friendship with Ellen DeGeneres. DeGeneres said on "Larry King Live" in the past that she and O'Donnell "weren't friends," this statement seems to have permanently left a dent in their relationship.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, O'Donnell revealed that DeGeneres had reached out to her via text a few weeks ago to check on her well-being, saying, "She texted me a few weeks ago checking in, seeing how I'm doing, and I asked her how she's surviving not being on TV."

In People magazine, O'Donnell reflected on their complicated relationship, "It's a big transition. But we've had our weirdness in our relationship. I don't know if it's jealousy, competition, or the fact that she once said a mean thing about me that hurt my feelings." She continued, recounting the interaction, "She wrote, 'I'm sorry, and I don't remember that.' I guess she saw me talk about it on Andy Cohen's show."

Although DeGeneres had forgotten, O'Donnell vividly remembered the incident that had left a lasting impact on her, so much so that she had even printed T-shirts for her staff that read, "I don't know Rosie. We're not friends."

The Emmy winner expressed her lack of trust in having DeGeneres in her life, saying, "I have a picture of her holding [my then-infant son] Parker. I know her mother. I could identify her brother without her in the room. I have known her for so many years. It felt like I don't trust this person to be in my world."

O'Donnell had previously opened up about the hurtful comment made by DeGeneres when she was asked about the fate of her former talk show, "The Rosie O'Donnell Show," after she publicly came out as a lesbian. In response, DeGeneres said, "I don't know Rosie. We're not friends." During an "Watch What Happens Live" appearance with Andy Cohen, O'Donnell candidly expressed the impact those words had on her, stating, "It hurt my feelings like a baby. And I never really got over it."

During the chat with The Hollywood Reporter, O'Donnell revealed that she had declined an offer to portray the witch Mary Sanderson in the iconic Halloween film "Hocus Pocus," released in 1993. Instead, the role was ultimately performed by Kathy Najimy.

O'Donnell candidly explained her decision: "Because I didn't want to play the fat, mean witch who eats and kills kids. Even though it was Bette Midler, who was like, my favorite, and Sarah Jessica Parker." She continued, "I just couldn't do it. I couldn't do a part where I would be mean to kids, and the joke was about the [character's] size. I just felt like I had to say no to that."

When asked if she regrets not taking the role in "Hocus Pocus," O'Donnell responded with a resounding "No." Clarifying, she told the outlet, "And I think Kathy's fantastic in it. You know, she does that face. I don't even know how she does it."

In the THR interview, O'Donnell praised Bette Midler, one of the stars of "Hocus Pocus," as one of the archetypal women I grew up with and wanted to be around." The discussion also spanned various aspects of O'Donnell's career and personal life, delving into her experiences as a gay woman and a single mother in Hollywood.