7 Reasons Why Rosie Had to Leave "The View"

“I think there's a larger point here: There is no "us."  

“…[u]nfortunately, there really is no modern-day women's movement or gay movement to speak of or for — so the spokesperson point is moot. And if it's good that we're diverse and complicated and have too many perspectives to form a unified movement, then the answer is that more voices are necessary, not a single, perfect representative.”

What a lovely tribute,Scribegrrl.  You totally nailed it.  

I think most people - yeah, even the haters - will really miss Rosie.

Lets commend her for what she has done right, which maybe more than our community could have ever hoped to do in such a short time. Everyday, she used such words as wife, 2 mommies, lesbian, even to go so far as to speak of her sex life. This was all done on National TV. Almost as if those were words one would use in everyday life in small towns anywhere.

Let us celebrate the social change she was able to get done in less than a year, by being herself, and just putting what that is out there, for all of America to accept into their everyday life, and perhaps, she opened an eye, made someone re-think their fears, maybe she did good, just by being herself.

good lesson for all.

Awesome post, scribegrrrl, you've totally hit the nail on the head here (7 times!).

I'll miss watching Rosie on The View. For all her faults, I think she's a genuine person and she's awesome. I'll be watching her video blogs, but it's not the same.

I know a big problem for people is that Rosie is a real loudmouth, but the homophobic attitudes among people are really highlighted when all they say after any point she makes is that she's a "fat, ugly, dyke." It's obvious that Rosie can cause controvery before she even opens her mouth because people hate her purely based on the fact that she's an overweight lesbian woman that is proud. People can't stand it and it shows.

Frankly, before Rosie joined The View, I was expecting there to be a big argument between Rosie and Elisabeth in a matter of weeks. But I surprisingly started to warm to Elisabeth a little bit. Although, crappy war politics and annoying voice aside, I've never forgiven her for saying on The View (about gay marriage): "What next? Are people going to be allowed to marry their toasters?" That probably isn't the exact quote but she did say toasters, I swear. And she completely denied saying that when Joy called her on it when Rosie was on... if she'd have admitted it and apologised for it and said that knowing a gay family made her see that she was wrong, then more people would have liked her for it. But she just lied about it and didn't apologise! Ugh. What a witch.

__________________

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.

"She proudly claimed the beer-drinking, sweatpants-wearing stereotype, and she talked about her sex life. Some call that damaging to the gay community. I just call it being out."

Rosie lets the public inside of her life to the most intimate degree.  In a way that most of us would only share with close friends or family. (Or, not at all.) 

I feel like she's has sacrificed herself emotionally much to the benefit of the GLTB community.  While I'm sure that she will remain economically viable, a certain ratings producer, the toll of living under that kind of brutal scrutiny must be crushing.

I am very grateful for what she has done.

I love you all.

http://askalesbian.blogspot.com/index.html

my thoughts would be reflected similar to: " I’ve said all along I’m not a huge fan of Rosie but I give the woman props for speaking out and taking risks. Saying things that need to be said even while opening herself up to such harsh critiques."

and i'm not quite sure what the glorified fuss is over Elisabeth...personally, i can't stand her...she's far too agrresively opinionated in a "right-wing" "conservative" sense and everytime i see her perky little miss-know-it-all-and-only-my-opinion-counts face, i want to do her serious harm... Rosie is Rosie...like her or love her...but she IS the ONLY celebrity that is strongly, contently and confidentally open and out...and don't we all wish we had more like her on our side???

I think that was a very nicely worded and a very accurate summation of why Rosie left.

But, I don't think she HAD to leave. And it is there that I fault her. If you are going to be the tough dyke then you better walk the talk. I agree she is sensitive, and she can give it out--but she certainly has a hard time taking it.

But, by doing this she played into the hands of Trump and O'Reilly and the rest. As I have mentioned before, this is  difficulty women have in general, and it is unfortunate--and that is whey we get walked over.

I disagree with Rosie about most of her politics except gay/lesbian and family issues--but I so much wish she would have sucked it in and stuck around.

Her leaving was bad for lesbians and women in general.

www.myspace.com/emmahuntermusic

Rosie O'Donnell's over-the-top personality and style would be better suited to talk radio, I think, than to TV.  (I was surprised that her "Ching Chong China" routine didn't make your list.) 

As I understand it, Rosie couldn't understand why the Imus thing was a race issue and not a feminist issue because the attack was more on their womanhood than their race. The black community does have more leverage than feminists and gays. But I don't think that should be confused with "power" per se. The media doesn't really pay attention to the complaints of feminists and gays.

And I don't think I need to tell you that there's as much homophobia within the black community as there is racism in the gay community. It's unfortunate because we should all be on the same side. But when I hear things like Isaiah Washington should be excused for saying the f word because gay white men are priviledged and racist, it's disturbing.

I don't think she was being hypocritical at all because there's a difference between objecting to something someone has said, and getting them fired in order to silence them.

I also don't think Rosie is intentionally racially insensitive, and that's not an excuse by any means, but sometimes someone just doesn't realize that something is inappropriate and they should be given the chance to learn. The Ching Chong thing was wrong, but I also don't think she'll ever say it again.

I think it comes down to teaching versus punishment. If minorities focus more on teaching each other what's inappropriate we can all come down on the same side a little more enlightened. We have a commonality in being disenfranchised and that's a start in understanding. But if we're more interested in punishing each other, we'll never be on the same side.

First, I have to say that I excitedly follow some of the discussions that happen on this site - its so great on so many levels (intellectually, emotionally, mentally and even physically as I do excercise my abs every now-and-then, laughing so hard!) Since I don't have friends like you in my life, its great that I'm still able to "hear" your opinions and have discourse about them!

Its interesting, when things like this happen, how easily people look at someone's "depicted real life" and start making accusations, or steadfastly showing their support, and pretty much defending either stance based mostly on what was portrayed in the media or a statement taken out of a specific context.

How about each of us looking in the mirror and asking ourselves "What the top 7 reasons are for living our lives the way we do?"

I don't know about the rest of you, but if I had to count the number of times I meant to say one thing one way, and it was understood a different way(category 1), or I actually specifically said one thing/to one person - that I didn't mean to say(category 2)...I'm able to just say "oh, actually, I meant..." and correct myself, and no one, other than the other person(s) would be the wiser for it.

In the case of someone who is being produced on TV - remember that other than the fact that things on TV really aren't necessarily "real" - even the news, they may be saying something that may fit into category 1 or 2 above - so its not the be-all and end-all, nor should it be held as their defining moment(s).

Talk about shattered 'fantasy' - I used to watch the Ellen show religiously when I could - and even sometimes found myself putting my phone on mute during meetings at work(I work from home), just so I could continue to watch the show! I did wish she'd be more political (especially after Rosie came on the View), but I was a hardcore Ellen fan who just wanted to look beyond that. My breaking point came, however, when I recently went to an Ellen show taping. I can't explain to you how disappointed I was after leaving the show - I haven't been able to watch the show since. This is because when we finally got seated in the studio, we were trained on how to 'respond' to everything that Ellen was scripted to say, and then we didn't actually see the person that she announced she had on the show, but we were to cheer like we did! And...there are many more points, but needless to say, the end-result was that I was finally weaned off her show - and pretty much a lot of other TV shows.

This is not a complaint against Ellen, personally. I'm pretty sure that most shows are recorded that way, not just Ellen's, and thats the way "show-biz" goes. But I'd bought into Ellen's obvious charm, warmth and off-the-cuff-like personality that was portrayed on the show that was broadcast. It just turned out that the show really was 'a show' which meant that her 'charm, warmth and off-the-cuff-like personality" was scripted for the Ellen Show. There is a possibility that she really is that same way away from the show in her personal life - but I'm not privy to that.

So my takeaway from this?

* Don't believe "the hype" because it really is.

* Lets grow by learning from other peoples' good and bad examples - and not focus so much on tearing them down or building them up when all they are doing is making mistakes, celebrating victories, and figuring their way through life - just like us! In the Ellen example, I can learn to be show more of my quirkiness and funniness - which is what I liked about her show, and for Rosie, she has taught me that I need to stand up for my opinions, even when it may not be the majority opinion, and to be as "out" in my professional life, as I am in my personal life. Of course, I've learned a lot more - but you'll have to wait for the "TV SHOW"! ;-)

(I'll stop now :-) - this is what happens when you're trying to avoid doing actual work!)

"Rosie wondered why there was no reaction from the women's movement. Al Sharpton spoke up, she noted, but where was the modern-day Gloria Steinem? Unfortunately, there really is no modern-day women's movement or gay movement to speak of or for."

That's just not true, scribegrrrl. The Feminist Majority and NOW both put out letters asking for Imus to be fired. And I could only accept that second statement if you prefaced it with "monolithic." There is no one spokesperson (or spokesgroup) for feminist or GLBT concerns--but that doesn't mean there  aren't still feminist and gay movements, composed of many individuals and groups, working for everything from reproductive rights to gay marriage.  

That's what the title of this article should be! ok, minus #4 and maybe #1...but seriously! I cannot stand this woman. It's embarrassing that she's considered to be a spokeswoman for the lesbian community. She is completely out of control and must be stopped!!!!! 

As high profile and overexposed as she is...she has become the voice for us simply by her ability to reach a large audience...creating some stereotype in the process that all lesbians are obnoxious, loud mouthed, unreasonable, overly sensitive, irrational, headstrong, over bearing women.

Is this the impression we want to give people?

I want to keep this short and to the point.  I hope someone will please step in and help Rosie out.  Her mental illness is out of control... going into a downward spiral.  I truly believe she needs to have her meds adjusted.  I am wondering if she bullies her wife into being too fearful to intercede for her... in any case, I think that woman that was blogging with her, the weekend after she left the show, is taking advantage of a very sick individual.  She needs to get some distance from that woman and seek some intense mental health care.  Eventually, her children may be at risk from her unpredictable moods and rants.  Remember, verbal abuse can be as damaging as physical abuse.  I hope someone will help her.

p.s. so much for keeping it short.

I'm shocked to find so many adament Rosie-haters or Rosie-extremely-dis-likers.  I have loved Rosie from the first time she made me laugh on the Rosie O'Donnell Show.  I didn't know she was gay until I read the front page of our newspaper that said she married the love of her life: Kelly, another woman. 

And THAT was one of the best days of my life. 

She is so real, so down to earth, and she is the one who showed me that it was okay to be comfortable with who I am.  I may not agree with everything she says, but she has done a tremendous service to me by being out.  And for that I have nothing but gratitude.

Rosie, you are one of my heroes. 

Cheers.

Most importantly number one, After Rosie left The View, it has all but turned horribly boring. I tuned in after months and wow, it is just not the same withotu her, too bad that freedom of speech is not as free as the US law says eh?.

Im super glad to see her coming back on TV though! Ill def tune in.