Rosie O'Donnell has recently been deluged with bad publicity by the supermarket tabloids - but it has little to do with her feud with the magazine editors of "Rosie" and everything to do with homophobia and money.

Prior to her coming-out, the tabloid news about O'Donnell was minimal and focused on her business decisions (like whether she would leave her talk show, or launch her own magazine) or innocuous personal items (like how many sunglasses she owned, or how her injured hand was recovering.)

Occasionally, there were pieces on more substantive issues such Rosie's loss of her 3-year-old foster-child Mia (which would later become the stimulus for her public gay-adoption stance), or hints at her pending coming-out, but for the most part, these pieces were sympathetic and fairly restrained.

A snapshot of the National Enquirer articles for the year before O'Donnell came out (included here with the Enquirer's own summaries) illustrates the mostly good-natured tone of the coverage of O'Donnell prior to her coming-out:

Nov 20, 2000 Rosie In Print
First, the former stand-up gal got her own talk-show gig (just like Oprah), now she's going to have her own magazine (just like you-know-who).
Oct 05, 2000 Rosie's New Calling
Rosie may quit TV all together when her contract with Warners expires in 2002.
Dec 11, 2000 Rosie O'Donnell, Esq.?
Word has it that the do-it-all woman is now contemplating getting her law degree.
Apr 09, 2001 Rosie Update: Still Recuperating
Rosie O'Donnell was expected to return to work this week, but she's just not up to par quite yet. An infected wound on her left hand is still giving her some trouble.
Apr 17, 2001 Rosie's pretty shady
Rosie O'Donnell has more than 200 PAIRS of sunglasses
Apr 20, 2001 Rosie Loses Daughter
Rosie O'Donnell is facing a devastating family tragedy: She had to give up her beloved 3-year-old foster-child Mia, who is severely emotionally handicapped, for treatment at a mental health facility.
Oct 05, 2001 Rosie Kicked Out Of Opera In Italy
What did Rosie O'Donnell learn on her summer vacation? Italian wine + Italian opera = DISASTER!
Dec 20, 2001 Rosie Rocked By Family Health Crisis
Rosie O'Donnell faced a horrifying family medical drama when her live-in love Kelli Carpenter's stepfather had emergency surgery to clear FIVE clogged heart arteries.
May 01, 2002 Rosie's girlfriend pregnant
According to reports, Rosie O'Donnell's longtime girlfriend, Kelli Carpenter, is pregnant.
May 22, 2001 Rosie Thanks Galpal at Emmys
Talk show queen Rosie O'Donnell has been criticized by some for not being more candid about her private life-- more specifically, her sexual orientation.
Sep 07, 2001 Former Security Guards File Lawsuit Against Rosie O'Donnell
Rosie O'Donnell may have to defend herself in court against former members of her security staff for invasion of privacy.
Jan 31, 2002 Rosie coming out? Rosie O'Donnell has written her memoir, called "Find Me," and it will be published on April 23.

But the tabloid coverage changed significantly once Rosie officially came out as a lesbian in March, 2002. Both the tone and content of the tabloid articles became darker and nastier, as these post-coming-out National Enquirer articles illustrate:

Jun 04, 2002 Rosie's son has his '2 moms' all figured out
Rosie O'Donnell's 7-year-old son Parker has found a unique way to explain his mother's gay lifestyle and the fact that he has "two moms."
Jun 21, 2002 Rosie hits 300 lbs!
Rosie O'Donnell's weight has soared to 300 pounds -- putting her in danger of a heart attack or stroke.
Jul 09, 2002 Rosie's revenge!
Rosie O'Donnell is on the warpath, and she's taking revenge on a long list of Hollywood enemies!
Aug 02, 2002 Rosie's drug battle
Rosie O'Donnell is reeling from a terrifying drug nightmare.
Aug 23, 2002 Rosie losing her family
Rosie O'Donnell's family is being ripped apart -- and her longtime lover Kelli Carpenter is threatening to storm out.

It hardly seems coincidental that O'Donnell comes out as a lesbian and suddenly the tabloid articles change from stories of sunglasses, adoption efforts, and drinking too much wine at the opera to battling drugs, obesity, and divorce court.

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