Rosie O’Donnell Says Her Tom Cruise Obsession Confused Everyone When She Came Out: 'I’m 100 Percent Gay'

OK! Staff Wed, August 12, 2026 at 11:40 AM UTC

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Rosie O’Donnell revealed her longtime Tom Cruise obsession left fans confused about her sexuality.MEGA

Rosie O’Donnell is setting the record straight about one of the most misunderstood celebrity crushes of the ’90s.

The former talk show host, 64, opened up about her sexuality and her long-running fascination with Tom Cruise during an August 11 episode of "Good Hang with Amy Poehler."

Rosie O’Donnell Recalled Her Longtime Affection for Tom Cruise

Rosie O’Donnell explained how her admiration for Tom Cruise was misunderstood for years.MEGA

While discussing how much conversations around sexuality and gender have changed, O’Donnell recalled how fans once struggled to understand what she meant when she talked about her love for the Hollywood star.

“I often said, ‘I don’t want him in bed. I want him to mow my lawn and bring me an iced tea,’” she explained.

“Like that’s what I said. And I didn’t know how much clearer I could be," the actress continued.

Rosie O’Donnell said Tom Cruise has never forgotten her birthday in more than two decades.MEGA

During The Rosie O’Donnell Show, which premiered in 1996, O’Donnell frequently joked about her obsession with Cruise. The actor even appeared on the show that December, bringing her flowers and sharing a hug and kiss while playing along with the joke.

And the comedian's affection for the Mission: Impossible star has lasted long after her talk show days. She has previously revealed that the actor never forgets her birthday and has sent her a gift every year for 25 years.

“He is the only person who never misses my birthday,” she said during a 2021 interview with SiriusXM.

“I love Tom Cruise and I will always love Tom Cruise," she added.

Rosie O’Donnell publicly came out as a lesbian in 2002.MEGA

But when O’Donnell publicly came out as a lesbian in 2002, she said people were genuinely surprised.

“When I finally did come out and people were shocked, I was like, ‘How the h--- are you shocked?’” she recalled.

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“And they’re like, ‘The Tom Cruise thing.’ I’m like, ‘How much clearer did I have to be?’” she added.

Rosie O’Donnell Explained Why Attraction Doesn’t Change Her Sexuality

Rosie O’Donnell said she is proud to be part of the LGBTQ+ community after years in the spotlight.MEGA

The TV personality emphasized that admiring a man’s looks or talent doesn’t necessarily mean she wants a romantic or sexual relationship with him. She pointed to Sydney James Harcourt, who played Rum Tum Tugger in Cats: The Jellicle Ball, as another example.

“He is the sexiest human I’ve ever seen and so unbearably talented,” she said, describing how starstruck she felt when he sang to her during her appearance in the production.

Still, O’Donnell was clear about where those feelings end.

“I’m one of those, you know, definitely 100 percent gay,” she said.

Rosie O’Donnell said she never wanted to leave behind the LGBTQ+ community she calls family.MEGA

She also reflected on how difficult it once felt to be openly gay in Hollywood. In the 1990s, O’Donnell said she didn’t believe an out lesbian could successfully have a career in show business. At the time, she was dating Kelli Carpenter, but the two kept their relationship largely out of the public eye.

Looking back, O’Donnell said she eventually realized she couldn’t imagine leaving the LGBTQ+ community behind.

“I could never leave my gay family,” she said, before adding, “I could never leave the throngs of gay people out in the world, of which I am a member, and proud to be a member.”

“And the same way that you can’t make a straight person a gay person,” the A League of Their Own star explained.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”