Rosie O’Donnell says she’s ‘heartbroken’ after Eric Swalwell scandal, compares him to Bill Clinton

DUBLIN, IRELAND: Rosie O’Donnell is speaking candidly and emotionally after allegations against Eric Swalwell surfaced, and her reaction is one of deep disappointment.

The comedian and actress didn’t hold back in a recent TikTok video, where she shared how personally affected she felt by the situation.

Her comments came just days after Swalwell announced he would suspend his campaign for California governor and step down from Congress amid multiple allegations, all of which he has denied while acknowledging past mistakes.

Rosie O’Donnell says she believed in Eric Swalwell

O’Donnell made it clear that her reaction is rooted in her past support for Swalwell. She revealed that she had interacted with him and even contributed to his campaign financially.

“Now can we talk a little bit about Eric Swalwell?” she said in the video. “I know that guy.”

She went on to explain the nature of their connection, saying, “Spoke to him on the phone a couple times, donated money to him, I believe. Talked about him in some public appearances years ago about how I believed in him, and his cute little family and two kids.”

Comparing the situation to Bill Clinton

As she processed the news, O’Donnell drew a comparison that made her feelings even clearer.

She recalled reaching out to Swalwell directly after the allegations became public.

“And then all this comes out about him, and it's heartbreaking to me,” she said.

She added that she sent him a message referencing a past disappointment. “I wrote him a little message and I said, ‘You know, Bill Clinton broke my heart, and now you did too.’”

Feeling disillusioned and losing trust

The situation has left O’Donnell questioning more than just one person. In her video, she spoke about a broader sense of disillusionment.

“You know the conclusion I've come to? Men suck,” she said bluntly.

She went on to explain how the experience has affected her outlook.

“It teaches you not to believe in anyone,” she said, reflecting on how public figures can present one image while hiding another side.

“People have images and they sell themselves as one thing, but they're not that thing,” she added. “They have complications as all humans do.”

Life away from the US and a personal reset

O’Donnell’s remarks come as she continues to live in Ireland, where she relocated after the 2024 election.

While she has largely stayed out of the spotlight, she recently shared that she briefly returned to the United States earlier this year.

“I was recently home for two weeks, and I did not really tell anyone,” she said during an interview in February.

The visit was deeply personal, focused on reconnecting with family.

“I wanted to see my family. I wanted to feel what it felt like. I wanted to hold my children again,” she explained.

She also admitted that part of the visit was about testing whether it felt safe to return more permanently, especially with her daughter.