Addiction is a horrible disease. I appreciate Rosie talking about it both with honesty and empathy.
Because addicts can break your heart to the very core, but also sometimes it’s not actually them, it’s the monster of their addiction taking over, and it’s such a tough dichotomy to deal with.
cerulean_rasengan on
“this is her legacy, and if she dies it’s on your watch.” my god my love for rosie is through the roof after reading this
OrangeCubit on
I don’t think this is Rosie’s story to tell. She died of a complication of diabetes, why muddy that and tarnish her reputation now?
luna1uvgood on
I hope Michelle’s family are okay with her talking about this. I think some people did suspect it might be addiction related, but it seemed like Michelle + her family wanted to keep things on the down low.
TookTheHit on
i like how she threw in she “had someone prepare a whole meal” for her visit with Michelle lol
zilegna on
I am not sure it was up to her to share this. I don’t think this information was publicly known yet?
Successful-Cry-7123 on
Was this public information beforehand?
mrtinybrat on
I’m not saying that Michelle Trachtenberg didn’t have any issues with drugs or alcohol, but from everything that has been released surrounding her death, she had type 1 diabetes and died from complications from a liver transplant. So if addiction did play a part, Rosie O’Donnell seems to be the first person to say so, which is kind of messed up.
charmedquarks on
I am struggling so hard with sobriety and this kicked me in the teeth :’(
Edit: wow, I’m actually crying. I needed your support today. IWNDWYT 🖤
AtPrick on
Everyone in Hollywood knew about her struggles, yet when she passed everyone acted surprised and no one said anything. Rosie’s going through it with her own family now, I’d imagine thats why she is speaking on the situation. Good on her. The only way to navigate addiction is to acknowledge it’s existence.
blerfcunt on
Not about you, Rosie
Good-Bodybuilder-985 on
This is all sad but I’m a little turned off by the “she was born addicted to drugs and never got away from it” mention. So many babies born into that are loved and nurtured and their brains are re-wired. She is speaking of her own daughter but in saying that it feels like her daughter will never have a chance and maybe shouldn’t try, because after all she was born an addict.
*Alright Reddit, I was that baby so I only have personal experiences. I’m not saying Rosie is wrong and she seems like a very loving mother.
Edit #2 -am middle aged white lady, was born addicted to cocaine in the ’80s, barely survived the “crack baby” labeling and society treated me like a lost cause. It’s just my experience and I know that isn’t everyone’s. I don’t get why people downvote for shit like this. It’s nuanced and I kindly posted my thoughts. But I must be wrong, so whatever.
SerBrienneOfSnark on
They could never make me hate Rosie.
asidechick on
forever GOAT RosieO
sandalwoodoud on
Wasn’t she notoriously known for being sober/not into substances?
terykishot on
I had a feeling it was addiction related. Appreciate the transparency of rosie confirming it.
airgl0w on
No one else thought the question had the most forced segue?
iammissx on
Addiction is like a parasite. It creeps in and, before you know it, it’s grown into an insatiable monster constantly begging for more.
I am sober now but I wouldn’t wish that unquenchable thirst on my worst enemy.
flindersandtrim on
Is it really true that children who are born addicted to a drug of some kind, that even if entirely removed from that situation (like in the case here, of adoption), that addiction is then higher risk in adulthood for them? So terribly sad. It makes sense of course, but I guess I would hope for them that the physical addiction component would be switched off by time and many years of healing. Scary.
I actually thought her death was illness related (outside of drugs) until now.
KTKittentoes on
That does make sense. Poor Michelle! And her poor friends and family. It is a very rough way to go.
lindalurker on
Mixed feelings…on one hand, I don’t know if Michelle would’ve wanted this shared or if her family has consented to it. It seemed like Michelle was in denial of her health situation prior to her death (due to the nature of her posts on IG), and it also seems that her parents wanted to keep this struggle and her COD private after the news broke.
On the other hand, Rosie seemed to genuinely care about Michelle for DECADES, and I don’t think she was trying to make headlines with this info or try to sensationalize this tragedy. I think she was trying to shed light on a difficult topic that is stigmatized and personally important to her, due to both Michelle’s struggles and her own child’s struggles.
She is speaking about this issue with compassion, so I hope people can benefit from hearing her words on the subject.
Dangital on
I understand why many here are questioning Rosie’s “place” or “right” to speak about Michelle’s struggles.
Here’s the obligatory “but:” No one can dictate to another whether another person has the right or place to speak openly about her own experiences with a colleague/friend.
My ability and right to remember difficult times with my friends due to addiction doesn’t end because others may be uncomfortable at the taboo. Not even the surviving family can dictate how a loved one will be remembered.
Rosie told her experience with compassion; I think it was from a place care. She wasn’t “dishing” or talking about Michelle’s struggles or conditions that she heard-tell from someone else’s gossip.
That said, remember, we will all be someone else’s memory, someone else’s experience they can share to whomever or however they want. If you want to be remembered well to others, try to _be_ well to yourself and others while you’re here.
Bleuberries6 on
I hear what everyones saying but unless Michelle herself insisted in her circle this never be talked about I don’t think she is doing anything wrong. Her family could very well be respecting her privacy about this and/or just really not want to dicuss anything publicly since they aren’t public figures, Rosie is one and she was asked about Michelle and spoke honestly about her/their relationship. ( and as someone with complicated familial ties I would hate for them to be the sole voice in charge of my memories)
Addicts suffer most in silence and we have lost too many to not speak about it when an incredibly talented, beloved, beautiful young woman with everything going for her lost her life to addiction.
Rosie has lost people this way before, she has watched her daughter struggle for years and probably saw a lot of similairities there. I don’t think the friend she knew for decades would begrudge her this.
TooBad9999 on
Oof. This is rough, not sure it’s her place to speak out on that.
cat_0_the_canals on
She’s such a good egg. Always has been.
alison_bee on
Wow this is all pretty shocking to me – I mean I knew she died from liver failure likely from excessive drinking, but I didn’t realize her general wellbeing was that bad off.
That’s so sad. Especially because it was apparently so obvious! But unfortunately you really can’t help someone who doesn’t want to be helped.
taylorsamo on
As the child of an addict father whose family always pretended he wasn’t one, I’ll always support these things being discussed publicly to challenge the stigma.
He took his own life, and I feel like he’d have had a better chance if his loved ones had taken it seriously when he was young. For anyone trying to say Rosie has no right to speak on it, Rosie actually knew and loved Michelle, and is talking about her here with respect and compassion. That makes her plenty qualified in my book.
ItsMinnieYall on
Why are people saying they aren’t surprised? I’ve seen lots of drunk/high starlets but I don’t recall her ever being one of them? I didn’t even know she was a party girl? Was this really common knowledge?
Glum-Breadfruit3666 on
lol at the haters in here. y’all . this wasn’t some big secret ffs . 🤦♀️. you think rosie of all people gonna be this fucking disrespectful? come on now
Lynneschulz on
I believe Michelle’s autopsy said complications from diabetes
Wolfpackat2017 on
Thanks for saying it Rosie. A lot of people seemed like they were sugarcoating/being vague about her death and that it was just her diabetes. Now I understand that could have been exasperated but it was a direct result of her addictions.
danceswsheep on
I don’t know if Rosie is right about Michelle’s addiction or not, but…
If anyone here has lost someone to addiction or is dealing with someone on the throes of addiction, AlAnon may be very helpful for you. Yes, it was born from AA, but it is not meant for addicts – it’s meant for folks who are dealing with the fallout from an addict in their life.
You did not cause and you cannot control or cure their addiction. Rosie may be feeling guilt of not “doing more” but that is a natural stage of grief and not actually reality. You can provide support & compassion for addicts but ultimately their sobriety can only be accomplished by themselves voluntarily. Don’t let yourself drown with them by trying to save them.
wreckingcrewe on
It was pretty clear that Michelle was struggling with something. When she talking about how people were trashing her appearance in the last few years, she was right that some people were being assholes but I honestly mostly saw concern in her comments because she clearly looked unwell. Her hair was super thinned out and her eyes were yellow yet she acted like people were just bashing her for aging and that wasn’t the full story at all.
33 Comments
Addiction is a horrible disease. I appreciate Rosie talking about it both with honesty and empathy.
Because addicts can break your heart to the very core, but also sometimes it’s not actually them, it’s the monster of their addiction taking over, and it’s such a tough dichotomy to deal with.
“this is her legacy, and if she dies it’s on your watch.” my god my love for rosie is through the roof after reading this
I don’t think this is Rosie’s story to tell. She died of a complication of diabetes, why muddy that and tarnish her reputation now?
I hope Michelle’s family are okay with her talking about this. I think some people did suspect it might be addiction related, but it seemed like Michelle + her family wanted to keep things on the down low.
i like how she threw in she “had someone prepare a whole meal” for her visit with Michelle lol
I am not sure it was up to her to share this. I don’t think this information was publicly known yet?
Was this public information beforehand?
I’m not saying that Michelle Trachtenberg didn’t have any issues with drugs or alcohol, but from everything that has been released surrounding her death, she had type 1 diabetes and died from complications from a liver transplant. So if addiction did play a part, Rosie O’Donnell seems to be the first person to say so, which is kind of messed up.
I am struggling so hard with sobriety and this kicked me in the teeth :’(
Edit: wow, I’m actually crying. I needed your support today. IWNDWYT 🖤
Everyone in Hollywood knew about her struggles, yet when she passed everyone acted surprised and no one said anything. Rosie’s going through it with her own family now, I’d imagine thats why she is speaking on the situation. Good on her. The only way to navigate addiction is to acknowledge it’s existence.
Not about you, Rosie
This is all sad but I’m a little turned off by the “she was born addicted to drugs and never got away from it” mention. So many babies born into that are loved and nurtured and their brains are re-wired. She is speaking of her own daughter but in saying that it feels like her daughter will never have a chance and maybe shouldn’t try, because after all she was born an addict.
*Alright Reddit, I was that baby so I only have personal experiences. I’m not saying Rosie is wrong and she seems like a very loving mother.
Edit #2 -am middle aged white lady, was born addicted to cocaine in the ’80s, barely survived the “crack baby” labeling and society treated me like a lost cause. It’s just my experience and I know that isn’t everyone’s. I don’t get why people downvote for shit like this. It’s nuanced and I kindly posted my thoughts. But I must be wrong, so whatever.
They could never make me hate Rosie.
forever GOAT RosieO
Wasn’t she notoriously known for being sober/not into substances?
I had a feeling it was addiction related. Appreciate the transparency of rosie confirming it.
No one else thought the question had the most forced segue?
Addiction is like a parasite. It creeps in and, before you know it, it’s grown into an insatiable monster constantly begging for more.
I am sober now but I wouldn’t wish that unquenchable thirst on my worst enemy.
Is it really true that children who are born addicted to a drug of some kind, that even if entirely removed from that situation (like in the case here, of adoption), that addiction is then higher risk in adulthood for them? So terribly sad. It makes sense of course, but I guess I would hope for them that the physical addiction component would be switched off by time and many years of healing. Scary.
I actually thought her death was illness related (outside of drugs) until now.
That does make sense. Poor Michelle! And her poor friends and family. It is a very rough way to go.
Mixed feelings…on one hand, I don’t know if Michelle would’ve wanted this shared or if her family has consented to it. It seemed like Michelle was in denial of her health situation prior to her death (due to the nature of her posts on IG), and it also seems that her parents wanted to keep this struggle and her COD private after the news broke.
On the other hand, Rosie seemed to genuinely care about Michelle for DECADES, and I don’t think she was trying to make headlines with this info or try to sensationalize this tragedy. I think she was trying to shed light on a difficult topic that is stigmatized and personally important to her, due to both Michelle’s struggles and her own child’s struggles.
She is speaking about this issue with compassion, so I hope people can benefit from hearing her words on the subject.
I understand why many here are questioning Rosie’s “place” or “right” to speak about Michelle’s struggles.
Here’s the obligatory “but:” No one can dictate to another whether another person has the right or place to speak openly about her own experiences with a colleague/friend.
My ability and right to remember difficult times with my friends due to addiction doesn’t end because others may be uncomfortable at the taboo. Not even the surviving family can dictate how a loved one will be remembered.
Rosie told her experience with compassion; I think it was from a place care. She wasn’t “dishing” or talking about Michelle’s struggles or conditions that she heard-tell from someone else’s gossip.
That said, remember, we will all be someone else’s memory, someone else’s experience they can share to whomever or however they want. If you want to be remembered well to others, try to _be_ well to yourself and others while you’re here.
I hear what everyones saying but unless Michelle herself insisted in her circle this never be talked about I don’t think she is doing anything wrong. Her family could very well be respecting her privacy about this and/or just really not want to dicuss anything publicly since they aren’t public figures, Rosie is one and she was asked about Michelle and spoke honestly about her/their relationship. ( and as someone with complicated familial ties I would hate for them to be the sole voice in charge of my memories)
Addicts suffer most in silence and we have lost too many to not speak about it when an incredibly talented, beloved, beautiful young woman with everything going for her lost her life to addiction.
Rosie has lost people this way before, she has watched her daughter struggle for years and probably saw a lot of similairities there. I don’t think the friend she knew for decades would begrudge her this.
Oof. This is rough, not sure it’s her place to speak out on that.
She’s such a good egg. Always has been.
Wow this is all pretty shocking to me – I mean I knew she died from liver failure likely from excessive drinking, but I didn’t realize her general wellbeing was that bad off.
That’s so sad. Especially because it was apparently so obvious! But unfortunately you really can’t help someone who doesn’t want to be helped.
As the child of an addict father whose family always pretended he wasn’t one, I’ll always support these things being discussed publicly to challenge the stigma.
He took his own life, and I feel like he’d have had a better chance if his loved ones had taken it seriously when he was young. For anyone trying to say Rosie has no right to speak on it, Rosie actually knew and loved Michelle, and is talking about her here with respect and compassion. That makes her plenty qualified in my book.
Why are people saying they aren’t surprised? I’ve seen lots of drunk/high starlets but I don’t recall her ever being one of them? I didn’t even know she was a party girl? Was this really common knowledge?
lol at the haters in here. y’all . this wasn’t some big secret ffs . 🤦♀️. you think rosie of all people gonna be this fucking disrespectful? come on now
I believe Michelle’s autopsy said complications from diabetes
Thanks for saying it Rosie. A lot of people seemed like they were sugarcoating/being vague about her death and that it was just her diabetes. Now I understand that could have been exasperated but it was a direct result of her addictions.
I don’t know if Rosie is right about Michelle’s addiction or not, but…
If anyone here has lost someone to addiction or is dealing with someone on the throes of addiction, AlAnon may be very helpful for you. Yes, it was born from AA, but it is not meant for addicts – it’s meant for folks who are dealing with the fallout from an addict in their life.
You did not cause and you cannot control or cure their addiction. Rosie may be feeling guilt of not “doing more” but that is a natural stage of grief and not actually reality. You can provide support & compassion for addicts but ultimately their sobriety can only be accomplished by themselves voluntarily. Don’t let yourself drown with them by trying to save them.
It was pretty clear that Michelle was struggling with something. When she talking about how people were trashing her appearance in the last few years, she was right that some people were being assholes but I honestly mostly saw concern in her comments because she clearly looked unwell. Her hair was super thinned out and her eyes were yellow yet she acted like people were just bashing her for aging and that wasn’t the full story at all.