Iconic comedian has moved to Ireland and only plans to return to US when it’s ‘safe’
'The personal is political.'
Comedian Rosie O’Donnell has revealed she’s leaving the US until ‘all citizens to have equal rights there in America.’
The 62-year-old posted a TikTok video on Tuesday confirming she moved to Ireland – where her grandparents are from – in January with her 12-year-child Dakota, who goes by Clay.
She said: ‘It’s been pretty wonderful, I have to say. The people are so loving and so kind, so welcoming. And I’m very grateful.’
While the comedy legend does not currently hold Irish citizenship, she’s in the process of officially becoming one, made possible by her irish ancestry.
She explained her reasoning for the move, saying: ‘I was never someone who thought I would move to another country, that’s what I decided would be the best for myself and my 12-year-old child. And here we are.’
She went on to explain that she’s glad she made the decision to move, continuing: ‘You know, I’m happy. Clay is happy. I miss my other kids. I miss my friends. I miss many things about life there at home and I’m trying to find a home here in this beautiful country, and when it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, that’s when we will consider coming back.’
@rosiehello all – here’s whats been going on folks – sending love ❤️- follow me on substack – link in my bio #bewell #speakkindlytoyourself #dourbest
♬ original sound – Rosie ODonnell‘The personal is political, as we all know.’
The mother of five’s child Dakota is non-binary, an identity that has become politically contentious in America under Trump’s administration.
The administration has, among other things, barred trans and nonbinary people from changing their gender on passports, criminalised teachers supporting trans students and banned trans athletes in women’s sports.
Some of Trump’s directives that challenge ‘gender ideology’ are being challenged in court, but as of now his executive order that the government only recognises the existence of two sexes has continued to stand.
Two of the orders Trump revoked upon taking office included a Biden directive aimed at preventing discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
The comedian said in the video: ‘The personal is political, as we all know.’ (Picture: TikTok)Trump also signed an order recognising two sexes only – male and female – and declaring that they cannot be changed.
‘These sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality,’ the order reads.
It contines: ‘Sex’ is not a synonym for and does not include the concept of “gender identity.”‘
The former talk show host is the mother to a nonbinary child (Picture: Lisa O’Connor/REX/Shutterstock)In his inaugural address Trump used far more inflammatory phrasing, saying: ‘As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female.’
O’Donnell – who is herself LGBTQIA+ – isn’t the only gay celebrity to flee the country following Trump’s election.
Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, decided to “get the hell out” of the country immediately after the election.
The pair have since taken up residence in a new home in the Cotswolds in South West England.
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