Rosie O’Donnell Slams the Door on DWTS Season 35 Casting Rumors
Rosie O’Donnell is not joining Dancing With the Stars — at least not yet. The 64-year-old comedian swatted down the buzz with a Monday, April 13 Instagram gag, posting an AI-generated shot of herself in a sequin-clad ballroom pose.
If you saw that glitzy image of Rosie O'Donnell in a sparkly ballroom gown and thought, oh cool, she is doing Dancing With the Stars... sorry. Fun rumor, not real. Rosie shut it down herself — with jokes — and for now, DWTS is a no.
What actually happened
On Monday, April 13, the 64-year-old comedian posted an AI- generated photo on Instagram that had her dolled up in sequins, striking a classic DWTS pose. The fake image even slapped on a pretend headline promising an 'epic comeback ' to the dancing show and a return to the U.S. It looked legit enough to trip a few wires — until you read her caption.
'This made me laugh- reminds me to never get a perm !!!'
'Completely untrue but funny 😁.'
One fan summed up the mood in the comments with: 'Wish it was true 👏🔥I would absolutely watch the show.'
DWTS status check
ABC has not announced any casting for season 35 yet, so everything is just wish lists and daydreams right now. For context, season 34 wrapped in November 2025 with Robert Irwin and pro partner Witney Carson taking the Mirrorball.
The Traitors? Also not a thing (yet)
With DWTS off the table, another fan pitched Rosie for The Traitors, which shoots in Scotland. Not the craziest idea, especially since she is basically next door these days.
Rosie moved to Ireland — and she is settling in
Last year, after Donald Trump was reelected, Rosie left the U.S. for Ireland with her youngest child, Dakota. In a March 2025 TikTok, she said she moved on January 15 — days before Trump, now 79, was sworn in for his second term — and that the move has been pretty wonderful. She joked that Ireland is 'beautiful and warm' in spirit even if the weather is, well, cold, and she has repeatedly praised how loving and kind people there have been.
She is in the process of getting Irish citizenship through her grandparents. Rosie also said she never thought she would move to another country, but decided it was the right call for her and her then-12-year-old. They are happy, even if she misses her older kids and friends back home. As for a return to the U.S., she has been clear: she would consider coming back when she feels all citizens can have equal rights there.
Family snapshot
Rosie adopted Dakota — who goes by Clay — in 2013 with her late ex-wife Michelle Rounds; they were married from 2012 to 2015. Her four older children — Parker (30), Chelsea (28), Blake (26), and Vivienne (23) — were adopted with her first wife, Kelli Carpenter.
Bottom line
No, Rosie is not doing DWTS right now. The viral ballroom pic was AI, the caption was a debunk, and season 35 casting is still a blank slate. Meanwhile, she is across the Irish Sea living a whole new chapter — and, apparently, not getting a perm anytime soon.