• by Frank Saxe , September 18, 2002

Saying the magazine with her name on the cover no longer reflects her “vision, values, and editorial direction,” Rosie O’Donnell has announced she is stepping away from the magazine Gruner & Jahr USA Publishing launched in her image from the remains of McCall’s some 16-months ago.

Just last weekend, O’Donnell’s spokeswoman had said she intended to stay at the magazine, but ongoing tensions apparently escalated in the past few days. In an email to staff members this morning, O’Donnell called her decision a “difficult one,” going on to say that she “spent a long time wrestling with it.”

G&J USA president/CEO Dan Brewster met with Rosie staff members this morning to discuss the future of the magazine, which appears in doubt. Legal action is highly likely, as well, since both sides have already enlisted outside counsel in their ongoing debate. G+J, a unit of Bertelsmann, is represented by George Frampton Jr., of the Boies, Shciller & Flexner law firm. O’Donnell is represented by former Manhattan U.S. attorney Mary Jo White.

Through August, Rosie’s ad pages were up 103% compared to 2001. Its advertising revenues were up 125% to $90M.