Rosie O'Donnell Looks Back on Memories with Daughter Chelsea Prior to Her Multiple Drug Arrests: 'Before It Began'

Mar. 15, 2025

Chelsea, Dakota and Rosie O’Donnell.Photo:Rosie O’Donnell/Instagram

Rosie O’Donnell/Instagram

Rosie O’Donnellis reminiscing about her time with her eldest daughter, Chelsea O’Donnell, amid Chelsea’s recent criminal arrests.

Rosie is a mom toDakota, 11,Vivienne, 22,Blake Christopher, 25,Chelsea, 27, andParker Jaren, 29. She is also the grandmother to Chelsea’s four children: sonAtlas, 14 months; daughtersAvery Lynn, 2;Riley, 3; andSkylar Rose, who will turn 6 years old later this month.

TheLeague of Their Ownstar posted a throwback photo of her, Dakota and Chelsea, to herInstagramaccount on Thursday, Dec. 5. In the photo, Dakota is sporting a felt-fabric crown that has her name on it, Chelsea smiles while their mother animatedly smiles for the camera.

“Before it began,” Rosie captioned the post and added the hashtag, “changes.”

Rosie’s post follows Chelsea’s November arrest. Chelsea also faces four misdemeanor charges for resisting or obstructing a police officer, possession of an illegally obtained prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia.

She has a preliminary hearing and arraignment scheduled for Dec. 11.

Chelsea’s November arrest comes after her previous ones on Sept. 10 and Oct. 11. Each of which took place in Wisconsin, andwere also related to drug possession, as well as felony child neglect, PEOPLE confirmed at the time.

After the first arrest, she posted a $2,000 bond on Sept. 24, and was released from Marinette County Jail. She was then booked into Oconto County Jail the following month. The earlier felony counts include possession of methamphetamine, possession of narcotic drugs and bail jumping and misdemeanor counts of resisting or obstructing an officer and possession of drug paraphernalia.

On Nov. 26, Chelsea pleaded not guilty to charges related to her Sept. 10 arrest during a preliminary hearing and arraignment. She is next due in court on Jan. 27, 2025.

Rosie O’Donnell and Chelsea Belle O’Donnell on June 20, 2016 in New York City.Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

The O’Donnell family shared a statement with PEOPLE following the news of Chelsea’s second arrest. “Sadly, this is not new for our family,” the family said. “Chelsea has struggled with drug addiction for a decade — we are all hopeful she will find her way out of this deadly disease.”

Similar to Rosie’s Dec. 5 Instagram post, she has shared other photos of Chelsea and statements about the situation on herInstagram.

“Chelsea is in the news today — this is a photo from a better time,” the comedian, 62, wrote in the caption of the Oct. 19 Instagram.

Rosie also posted a screenshot of an email requesting comment on her daughter’s arrest to herInstagramaccount on Dec. 3.

She continued: “She is facing many charges related to her drug addiction - we all hope she is able to get the help she needs to turn her life around - #drug-addiction #tragic #sadness #truth.”

Chelsea Belle O’Donnell, Vivienne Rose O’Donnell and mother Rosie O’Donnell pose at the 2nd Annual Fran Drescher Cancer Schmancer Sunset Cabaret Cruise on The SS Hornblower Infinity Crusie Ship on June 20, 2016 in New York City.Bruce Glikas/Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

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source: people.com