Chelsea O’Donnell turned 18 this week, moved out of Rosie O’Donnell’s home
The reunion for Rosie O’Donnell and daughter Chelsea O’Donnell (right) was short-lived: Earlier this month, Rosie reported then-17-year-old Chelsea had been missing for one week. The teen was later found safe — but in the attic of a 25-year-old man with a criminal record. Upon turning 18 this week, Chelsea decided to formally move out of Rosie’s home.
“Chelsea made a decision when she turned 18 that she wanted to go to her birth mother,” Rosie’s spokesperson Cindi Berger said, CNN reports. “This was her choice.”
Earlier this year, Chelsea’s biological mother, Deanna Micoley, claimed Rosie “stole” the newborn when Deanna was under the influence of heroin.
“I believe Rosie O’Donnell knew that I was in no condition to sign away my parental rights to my daughter,” Deanna, now 37, said. “I may not have been the best mother back then. I did drugs and I have a criminal record because of it. But I surely didn’t deserve to have my baby stolen from me!”
When Deanna made those claims this spring, Rosie said via her publicist that she encouraged Chelsea’s decision to communicate with her birth mother and was disappointed by Deanna’s interview. TMZ reports Deanna picked Chelsea up on Monday, her 18th birthday. Rosie, who previously expressed concerns about Chelsea’s mental health, reportedly reacted by cutting Chelsea off financially and withholding her birth certificate and social security card.