Rosie O’Donnell Explains ‘The View’ Exit & Split From Wife

Rosie O’Donnell shocked fans last week by announcing she was leaving “The View.”

In a new interview with Access Hollywood, the daytime TV star said health reasons were here main motivation to exit the ABC talker (she’s officially leaving at the end of the week).

“The doctor said to me, ‘The stress level is really, really high and it’s affecting some of your tests that you’re doing,'” Rosie – who suffered a near-fatal heart attack in 2012 – told Access at the world premiere of her HBO documentary, “Rosie O’Donnell: A Heartfelt Stand Up,” in New York City. “I do transcendental meditation, and I do a lot of stuff, but I’ve got five children.”

When asked if Barbara Walters’ absence played a part in her leaving, Rosie replied “every show changes.”

“It’s been on a long time,” she continued. “Everybody misses Barbara Walters, including me.”

As for what’s going on with her and wife Michelle Rounds, Rosie said they’re trying to find their footing.

“We’ve been together for a little over three years, and right now we’re not living together,” she said. “We’re trying to see what’s the best for everybody. I love her very much.”

Rosie said that health concerns put a lot of stress on the couple’s relationship.

“We’ve had a lot of medical issues between us, and that’s a very big trauma for anybody to go through,” she said. “The kind of illness that Michelle had, desmoid tumors, [is] a very, very rare cancer that few doctors have even heard of.

“So, you know, we’ve been through a lot in the last three years. So, we’ll see,” she said. “Who knows what tomorrow brings.”

Erin O’Sullivan

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