Rosie's Magazine Is Officially Dead

By Stephen M. Silverman

Thursday October 17, 2002 01:00 PM EDT

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After an 18-month ride that has culminated in bitterness and multimillion-dollar lawsuits, Rosie magazine, a publication that was meant to be a happy sounding board for TV's former Queen of Nice Rosie O'Donnell, is officially dead, its publisher, Gruner + Jahr USA, announced Thursday.

The December issue of Rosie, which will be the publication's last, is due to hit newsstands Nov. 12.

In an internal corporate memo sent to G+J employees and obtained by PEOPLE.com, the company said: "As a result of Rosie O'Donnell's decision to terminate her participation in Rosie magazine, Gruner + Jahr USA is left with no choice other than to reduce staff levels until further plans, if any. We have been forced to suspend publication of Rosie magazine and, as a result will be eliminating approximately 120 positions."

As a member of the Rosie magazine staff told PEOPLE.com, "Understandably, the mood is horrific. First came the brief announcement, then a career services person was introduced and then everyone was handed their severance packets and trooped back down to the ninth floor."

According to Mediaweek.com, O'Donnell's publicist, Cindi Berger, said: "Rosie is saddened that they wouldn't transition the magazine to keep the staff employed. Because the magazine wasn't going in the direction that she envisioned she just wanted to take her name back."