Rosie O'Donnell announced last week that she would be leaving The View after simultaneously revealing she and her wife, Michelle Rounds, are divorcing. This morning, however, the co-hosts addressed all of the morning's hot topics except for one: Rosie's imminent departure.
Many wondered why the women of the talk show would avoid the massive elephant in the room, but O'Donnell released a video explaining not only why the ladies of The View didn't discuss her decision to bow out but also talked further on her reasoning behind her choice.
On why she didn't bring it up on Monday morning's episode, O'Donnell says that everyone else did, but she refused.
"I didn't want to talk about it," she says in her video. "I spoke about it during the press line on Friday night..."
Although she says she fully explained herself at the event Friday night promoting her new documentary for HBO, she rehashes her reasons behind terminating her contract early for the second time.
"I had a heart attack two years ago, and stress is very bad for heart attack survivors," she explains of her health. "I'm minimizing my stress by leaving The View, and the stress that I'm having at home isn't as easily [fixable]."
The home stress she mentions refers to her pending divorce from Rounds, whom she married in 2012.
"Marriage is complicated, and I've got five kids," she says. "There's lots of stuff going on at home and lots of stuff going on at work. The only thing I can control is the work by leaving.
"I can turn that volume down all the way to zero," she adds.
Although there have been reports that ongoing feuding with Whoopi Goldberg have added to her decision, the 52-year-old comedienne insists that it is just her health and home life that are affecting her decision. Insiders tell Variety that producers' decision to make Goldberg the moderator instead of O'Donnell was one of the points of hostility between the two.
Rumors surrounding a shakeup on The View have also included a potential permanent departure from Rosie Perez because of an obligation to her play, but O'Donnell shot those down.
"No matter what you read anywhere, Rosie Perez is also coming back after she is done rehearsing her play," she insisted.
So will O'Donnell return to the show in the future?
"Rosie is an immensely talented star who comes in each and every morning brimming with ideas, excitement and passion for the show. When she told us that she wanted to exit The View, we respected and understood her desire to put her well-being and her family first," ABC said in a statement obtained by E! News. "We're delighted she's still part of the ABC family with upcoming guest appearances on The Fosters. And we know she'll return to The View often with her unique point of view and updates on her work and her family."