Throughout history, countless individuals have sparked change through courageous acts of resistance, like Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on the bus and Mahatma Gandhi’s famous protest march for salt.
Now, it seems, we can add Rosie O’Donnell‘s $90,000 facelift to that storied legacy.
Just to clarify, O’Donnell’s plastic surgery in January wasn’t only to address loose skin after losing 60 pounds with the drug Mounjaro. It addressed other concerns as well.
While promoting her new stage show, Common Knowledge, the performer explained that her recent facelift – a costly procedure popular among the wealthy – is, in her view, a form of political expression.
The 64-year-old told People magazine she struggled with getting a facelift, as her feminist beliefs led her to see it as catering to societal expectations of beauty imposed by men – something she didn’t personally support. She also jokingly acknowledged the procedure was a fairly trivial concern.
While putting off a decision, Rosie O’Donnell was surprisingly reminded by her 13-year-old nonbinary child, Clay, that she’s someone young girls admire. Clay asked, ‘Mom, girls look up to you. What will people remember about your work if you do this?’
Rosie finally agreed, stating that the core strength of feminism lies in a woman’s right to make her own choices about her body and reproductive life.
It seems Lawrence O’Donnell, like many people with strong liberal views, has a tendency to present a change of heart as a display of moral strength.
Just so you know, she didn’t oppose getting cosmetic procedures simply because of what others might think.
After moving to Ireland soon after Donald Trump’s second inauguration, the actress decided she wanted to welcome aging and play more mature, complex roles.
In a 2021 interview with Vulture, the actress explained that she always anticipated reaching a point in her career where she’d be taking on roles similar to those made famous by Geraldine Page, who won her only Oscar later in life.
I never planned on getting plastic surgery. I wanted to age naturally and embrace how a woman my age should look, and I believed that would actually be an advantage later in life. I hoped it would open doors to roles like the ones Colleen Dewhurst played, and it has! Now that I’m nearing 60, I’m actually getting a lot more acting opportunities.
What a difference five years and the pull of gravity makes.
Let’s be real – nobody wants to look tired, puffy, or just generally worn down. I often hear people express worry about losing their youthful appearance and ending up looking…well, not themselves! It’s completely understandable to feel that way, and it’s why so many of us focus on self-care and finding ways to maintain a fresh, revitalized look.
It’s understandable that O’Donnell was frustrated with people commenting on her appearance, assuming she was unhappy when she felt good, due to the effects of Mounjaro on her jawline. Fortunately, with an estimated wealth of $80 million, she has the resources to address it and restore her confidence.
The treatment helped regain lost fullness, reduced signs of aging, and significantly improved her self-esteem. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying those benefits, so why not embrace them?
It wouldn’t be that simple, naturally. At least O’Donnell was honest about getting work done, which is more than many celebrities who are overly focused on their appearance will do.
Rosie’s attempts to downplay cosmetic procedures are quite different from Ricki Lake, who openly shared that she had a face and neck lift in 2024. Lake decided on the surgery after losing forty pounds resulted in loose skin around her neck.
This week, Lake celebrated the two-year mark since her surgery by sharing honest before and after photos on Instagram. She also publicly thanked her surgeon. Unlike Rosie O’Donnell, Lake demonstrates that you can be open about procedures without oversharing personal struggles—a more understated approach would suit O’Donnell well.
However, the actress is known for making inaccurate statements. For example, she previously falsely claimed that the shooter at a Minneapolis Catholic school—who harmed many children in 2025—was connected to the MAGA movement, the Republican party, and white supremacy.
Also, she dramatically exaggerated how much influence she had over President Trump throughout their twenty years of conflict.
She told Variety magazine that she believes she reminds the President of painful memories from his childhood and past failures, essentially triggering a strong, negative reaction.
I’ve been a longtime observer of Rosie O’Donnell, and honestly, I’m consistently let down by what feels like performative activism. Whether she’s presenting a progressive stance as the main reason for a cosmetic procedure, or dramatically distancing herself politically by moving abroad, it always comes across as self-centered. It feels like everything she does stems from an overblown belief in her own influence and significance, and that’s especially true when it comes to her recent facelift – it’s just disappointing to see.
It’s refreshing to see celebrities being honest about cosmetic procedures, unlike in the past when they’d often claim dramatic changes were simply due to better skincare or drinking more water.
It was a deceptive display that created impossibly high hopes and treated people like they were naive.
Even with big spending on appearances, O’Donnell’s natural look is a more down-to-earth option compared to the flawlessly polished images of influencers who often have cosmetic procedures at a young age when they may not even need them.
Rosie often tries to appear very progressive, but it’s become annoying and has actually prevented her from being a good influence, which is what she claims to want.
2026-07-23 04:50