World
CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Rosie testimony: "People who lie...get cancer"
A cancer survivor burst into tears Wednesday when she testified that Rosie O'Donnell had suggested she was lying about goings-on at O'Donnell's now-defunct magazine, Rosie, and told her that liars get cancer. Cindy Spengler, who was head of marketing at the glossy monthly, said O'Donnell made the remark after a July 2002 meeting to discuss Rosie's problems. Spengler said O'Donnell called and told her that her silence in the meeting was the same as lying. "You know what happens to people who lie," the witness quoted O'Donnell as saying. "They get sick and they get cancer. If they keep lying, they get it again."
Spengler, who said she had survived breast cancer, was testifying in Manhattan's state supreme court, where O'Donnell and Rosie publisher Gruner+Jahr USA are suing each other for breach of contract. Spengler began weeping. She said she asked O'Donnell, "Your mother died of breast cancer. Was she lying?" "Yes," Spengler quoted the entertainer as saying. O'Donnell's publicist, Cindi Berger, said Spengler was referring to denials by the talk-show host's mother that O'Donnell had been molested as a child by a male relative. Berger refused to give details about the incident. In her autobiography, Find Me, O'Donnell wrote, "I was an abused kid. This is something I've chosen not to dwell on in my public life. So, yes, I had been abused, although the details are not important."
Outside court, O'Donnell said she had called Spengler the very next morning and apologized for the cancer comment. "I'm sorry I hurt her the way I did," O'Donnell said. "That was not my intention." O'Donnell said she and Spengler, who is now a G+J USA marketing vice president, had spoken often about breast cancer. "It was the monster that took my mom," she said.
Spengler admitted during testimony that she sent an e-mail on October 1, 2002, to Susan Toepfer, Rosie's editor in chief, suggesting that "we do our own little 'ding dong the witch is dead' song and dance" after O'Donnell broke with G+J. In an e-mail response, Toepfer, who had said she wanted to move into O'Donnell's office, promised to "take out the bad vibes." She also said, "I think you're supposed to burn sage in all the corners."
G+J lawyers allege that O'Donnell destroyed the magazine because of a fight over which cover photo should be used for a feature on the actresses from the TV show The Sopranos. The cover, showing O'Donnell between two of the actresses, was never used. During the testimony of Daniel Brewster, chief executive officer of G+J USA, O'Donnell's lawyer Matthew Fishbein showed parts of the joint venture agreement between the entertainer and G+J. The contract says O'Donnell has "control over the editorial process and the editorial staff," subject only to Brewster's veto a week before publication. It also says O'Donnell and G+J will jointly appoint the magazine's senior staff. Brewster said, "We interpreted it [the veto provision] as having ultimate editorial control." Justice Ira Gammerman said he is the one who will interpret the contract.
O'Donnell quit the magazine in mid September 2002 following a months-long dispute over editorial control, crystallized by the fight over the Sopranos cover shot. The publishers sued O'Donnell for $100 million, alleging breach of contract for walking away. She countersued for $125 million, declaring that by cutting her out of key editorial decisions, G+J had violated its contract with her. Gammerman, who is hearing the trial without a jury, will decide the case. The judge has overseen other high-profile cases involving Joan Collins and Woody Allen.
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
Watch Now: The Daily
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Latest Stories
Over 90% of trans youth live in states pushing anti-trans legislation: report
April 23 2024 10:08 PM
George Santos pulls out of New York congressional race
April 23 2024 7:04 PM
Biden will hammer Trump over abortion bans in Florida speech
April 23 2024 5:00 AM
Tristan Snell, who brought down Trump University, sees conviction in hush money case
April 22 2024 7:36 PM
Joe Biden admin marks Earth Day with major environmental initiatives
April 22 2024 4:18 PM
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott: 'We want to end' trans and gender nonconforming teachers
April 22 2024 4:13 PM
Nonbinary 17-year-old killed two years after being reported missing
April 22 2024 3:46 PM