
Rosie O’Donnell is making headlines once again, this time for a heartfelt yet complicated gesture aimed at honoring her nonbinary childâs pronouns. The 64-year-old comedian recently revealed a new tattoo on her left wrist that reads âthey,â a tribute to her 13-year-old child, Clay, who came out as nonbinary in 2024. However, during her conversation on Amy Poehler’s âGood Hangâ podcast, O’Donnell found herself slipping up by repeatedly referring to Clay as âshe.â
In an emotional discussion, O’Donnell admitted that adapting to Clayâs preferred pronouns has been challenging. âItâs very hard, honey. And [gender-neutral pronouns] really matters to them, and I know it matters to them,â she shared, acknowledging her struggle to remember the correct terms.
Clay, formerly known as Dakota, even created a cue card with âtheyâ written on it, which they would hold up whenever O’Donnell accidentally used the wrong pronoun.
O’Donnell, who has been living in Ireland since the political turmoil following the 2024 election, took the cue card to a tattoo artist to immortalize Clayâs preferred pronouns in their handwriting. She hoped this gesture would deeply resonate with her child. However, her expectations were dashed when Clay reportedly didnât seem to care much about the tattoo at all.
âI thought sheâd be very touched ⌠she could not care less,â O’Donnell recounted, humorously catching herself once again misusing the pronoun.
The comedian, who famously came out as gay in 2002, has previously discussed the enlightening conversations sheâs had with Clay about gender identity. In a 2024 interview, she recalled a moment when Clay explained the distinction between đđđ and gender: âMommy [genitalia] is their đđđ. Thatâs binary.
Iâm talking about their gender, and gender is infinite.â
As O’Donnell navigates this learning curve, her experiences raise important questions about understanding and respecting nonbinary identities. How can we all better support those around us in their journeys of self-discovery?


