Rosie O’Donnell Speaks Out After Daughter Chelsea’s Arrest For Meth Possession & Child Neglect

Rosie O’Donnell is breaking her silence after her daughter, Chelsea Belle O’Donnell, was arrested and charged with felony child neglect and drug possession.

Last month, according to court records, the comedian’s 27-year-old eldest daughter was taken into custody in Wisconsin. Police executed a search warrant at Chelsea’s Amberg home, leading to her arrest. 

The 62-year-old TV personality’s daughter was first booked into jail in Marinette County on Sept. 10 and was released later that month after posting a $2,000 bond.

However, Chelsea was later taken into custody again, this time in Oconto County on Oct. 11, where she remains in jail. Following her initial arrest in Marinette County, Chelsea was hit with several felony charges, including neglecting a child, possession of methamphetamine, and maintaining a drug trafficking place, according to court documents.

In Oconto County, Chelsea faces additional charges as of Oct. 11, including felony counts of possession of methamphetamine, possession of narcotic drugs and bail jumping. She is also facing misdemeanor charges for resisting or obstructing an officer and possession of drug paraphernalia. Court records indicate she has upcoming court appearances on Nov. 4 and Nov. 7.

As news of Chelsea’s legal troubles spread, Rosie, who adopted Chelsea with her ex-wife, Kelli Carpenter, when she was a baby, took to Instagram to share her thoughts. Posting an old selfie of Chelsea, the comedian reflected on her daughter’s struggles.

“Chelsea is in the news today — this is a photo from a better time,” Rosie captioned the post before sharing the O’Donnell family’s statement.

“Sadly, this is not new for our family,” the statement reads. “Chelsea has struggled with drug addiction for a decade — we are all hopeful she will find her way out of this deadly disease.”

Alongside the felony charges, Chelsea is also facing four misdemeanor charges, including possession of THC, drug paraphernalia, illegally obtained prescription drugs and disorderly conduct.

Rosie and Chelsea have had a strained relationship over the years, marked by periods of estrangement. In 2015, Rosie made headlines when she announced that then-teen Chelsea had gone missing from their New York home. After being found a week later, Chelsea decided to move to Wisconsin to live with her birth mother. Chelsea accused O’Donnell of abuse.

The two eventually reconnected in 2018 after Chelsea welcomed her first child. During an appearance on The Talk, Rosie reflected on their reunion, saying the challenges had strengthened their relationship.

“She’s doing better now and we’re both communicating with each other,” Rosie said at the time. “When somebody does something unforgivable to you and you can forgive them and they can forgive you, there’s a kind of grace that descends upon the both of you, within that.”

Now a mother of four, Chelsea’s children include daughters Skylar Rose, 5, Riley, 3, Avery Lynn, 2, and son Atlas, 1.

Subscribe to uInterview’s free weekly email for the latest entertainment news & exclusive celebrity videos!

Let us know what you think of the story in the comments below – join the conversation!