Rosie O’Donnell says news she was a lesbian barely made ‘a blip’ after the comedian came out in 2002

Rosie O’Donnell has opened up about coming out.

The comedian, 58, spoke about her 2002 shock announcement that she was gay during an interview for Red Table Talk: The Estefans, set for release on Wednesday. 

‘When I came out on TV after 9/11, it was like a blip,’ admitted the former host of The View.   

However she admitted being surprised that anyone would find the admission shocking.

‘I was surprised that people thought I was not gay, she told host Gloria Estefan, Emily Estefan and Gloria’s Daytime Emmy Award-winning Lili Estefan.

‘I went to a comedy club and I was doing stand-up and I’m like, “I’m gay. Listen, 9/11 happened, I’m gay. I’m telling you all, I’m gay. In case the buildings blow up again, I’m so, so gay,’ you know?”

O’Donnell came out in February 2002 as part of her act at the Ovarian Cancer Research benefit at Caroline’s Comedy Club in New York City.

The announcement came two months before the end of her talk show. 

And recently, Rosie empathized with another talk show host, when she lent her support to Ellen DeGeneres. 

 O’Donnell revealed she has ‘compassion’ for DeGeneres, whose NBC chat show is currently mired in scandal amid claims the comedienne oversaw a ‘toxic work environment’.

‘You can’t fake your essence,’ O’Donnell said during an August appearance on Busy Philipps Is Doing Her Best podcast. ‘That’s why I have compassion for Ellen, right?’ 

O’Donnell added: ‘I have compassion, even though, you know, I hear the stories and I understand. I think she has some social awkwardness.’

Like DeGeneres, O’Donnell is a successful comedienne and actress who made the transition to TV talk show host.

The Rosie O’Donnell Show ran for six seasons and won her five Daytime Emmys before she stepped back to spend more time with her children.

She returned briefly to the limelight in 2014 for a year-long stint as a co-host on daytime TV’s The View.