Ricki Lake has shared an unexpected detail about her friendship with Rosie O’Donnell. The actress recalled how O’Donnell initially questioned her decision to undergo cosmetic surgery. However, her friend’s perspective eventually changed after she experienced significant weight loss herself.
Rosie O’Donnell went from critic to patient, Ricki Lake says
During an October 31 appearance on The Weekend View, Lake discussed her 2024 facelift. She explained that she decided to undergo the procedure after losing 40 pounds. The surgery helped her feel more like herself again.
Lake also addressed how O’Donnell reacted when she first considered surgery. According to Lake, her longtime friend was not immediately supportive. She described O’Donnell’s initial response as “a little judgy.”
“She’s my really good friend — we talk all the time — and she was a little judgy. She would admit it,” Lake explained. O’Donnell reportedly questioned why Lake needed the procedure. “She’s like, ‘Why do you need it? You don’t need it,’” she recalled.
However, Lake said O’Donnell eventually reconsidered her position. After losing a significant amount of weight, O’Donnell also underwent a facelift. Lake praised the results, saying, “She looks phenomenal.”
O’Donnell previously opened up about her changing views in a Substack essay. She revealed in May that she had undergone a facelift in January 2026. Her candid admission also acknowledged her earlier opposition to cosmetic surgery.
“I used to feel very strongly about facelifts. Not casually — morally,” O’Donnell wrote. She admitted assigning herself the role of someone who would “never, ever” get one. However, her perspective changed after losing 50 pounds.
“I thought it was a betrayal,” she continued. O’Donnell then acknowledged, “And then I lost 50 pounds…” Her comments reflected how her personal experience had changed her long-held beliefs.
The actress also discussed her youngest child, Clay’s, reaction. The 13-year-old initially advised her against cosmetic surgery. O’Donnell said the response reminded her of her younger self. Ultimately, she wanted her children to understand the importance of personal choice.
O’Donnell later said her facelift followed a total weight loss of 60 pounds. She attributed the transformation to surgery, lifestyle changes and weight-loss medication.
Lake’s latest comments have brought renewed attention to how both friends changed their views on cosmetic procedures.
