Maybe Rosie O’Donnell needs to take some “conscious uncoupling” lessons from Gwyneth Paltrow, because the divorce and custody battle with her estranged wife is turning into a bitter, recriminatory, made-for-tabloid mess.
The latest testiness broke out Tuesday when O’Donnell, who quit “The View” in 2014 to reduce stress, suffered a meltdown during her first appearance in divorce court, the New York Daily News reported.
With her estranged wife, Michelle Rounds, not in attendance, the comic fumed when she realized reporters were present.
“Press? There’s press here?” O’Donnell, 53, said angrily. (At least, as the Daily News reported, O’Donnell looked trim and chic, in a deep aqua linen tunic over black slacks, as she went full diva.)
When the reporters reminded her that courtrooms are open to the public, O’Donnell called on the judge to bar the press.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Lori Sattler asked that O’Donnell be escorted to a locked room across the hall. For the next 2 ½ hours, various court officers involved — judge, law clerk and attorneys for O’Donnell and Rounds — shuttled from room to room, conferring. No one spoke publicly after the session. Rounds’ attorney, William London, would only say, “The custody case is proceeding.”
O’Donnell and Rounds split last fall after three years of marriage. At the center of their custody battle is the couple’s 2-year-old daughter, Dakota. Rounds didn’t attend Tuesday’s hearing because she was home taking care of a sick Dakota, who had a fever of 104.3, Rounds’ attorney said.
The breakup became ugly after Rounds sued for full custody. As much as everyone dismissed Paltrow for her loopy, Goopy “conscious uncoupling” terminology, she later explained that the concept was essentially about keeping her divorce from Chris Martin amicable — for the sake of the kids.
Things don’t look too amicable in this breakup, with Rounds alleging that O’Donnell is an unfit mother because she is too distracted caring for her older children from a prior marriage. O’Donnell is also expecting her sixth child with her new girlfriend, singer and songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins, radar Online reported.
Rounds reportedly also said O’Donnell abuses alcohol and pot, according to TMZ, but Rounds subsequently denied making those accusations.
Martha Ross provides celebrity commentary for the Bay Area News Group. Follow her at twitter.com/marthajross.
