Rosie O'Donnell Leaves Wife, Quits The View

Page Six is reporting breaking news for Rosie O’Donnell’s professional and personal life: The View co-host and her wife, Michelle Rounds, have split-up and and next week is O’Donnell’s last on the show, so she can focus on her five children.

Citing sources close to O’Donnell, Page Six reported that Rounds and O’Donnell have been living apart for months. The couple married three years ago.

Page Six says it obtained confirmation of the separation from Cindi Berger, O’Donnell’s representative. Berger issued a statement Friday night: 

“I can confirm that Rosie and her wife Michelle split in November. Rosie has teens and an infant at home that need her attention. This has been a very stressful situation. She is putting her personal health and family first. ABC has been wonderfully understanding and supportive of her personal decision to leave The View. Next week will be her last.”

Rounds is O’Donnell’s second wife. They wed in private in June 2012. In 2013, they adopted a baby girl, Dakota. O’Donnell has four other older children.

This is O’Donnell’s second exit from The View since 2007. The show welcomed her back last fall, following the departure of several co-hosts including founding host Barbara Walters. 

But within months, incidents of friction both behind-the-scenes and on the set with co-host Whoopi Goldberg led to rumors she would again depart the talk show. Page Six cites sources as saying the decision to leave was “very personal” and because of the breakup.

ABC issued  a statement confirming O’Donnell’s departure: 

“Rosie is an immensely talented star who comes in each and every morning brimming with ideas, excitement and passion for the show. When she told us she wanted to exit The View, we respected and understood her desire to put her well-being and her family first. We’re delighted she’s still part of the ABC family with upcoming guest appearances on The Fosters, and we know she’ll return to The View often with her unique point of view and updates on her work and her family.”

In one week, HBO debuts a special featuring standup by O’Donnell, in which she talks about her 2012 near-fatal heart attack. “A Heartfelt Stand Up,” premieres on Valentine’s Day.