Rosie O'Donnell leaving 'The View' to spend more time with family

 By 
Patrick Kulp
 on 
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Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Rosie O'Donnell is leaving ABC's The View for the second time.

After separating from her wife of three years, Michelle Rounds, in November, O'Donnell is giving up her spot on the daytime talk show in order to focus on her children, O'Donnell's representative Cindi Berger said in a statement.

"Rosie has teens and an infant at home that need her attention," Berger said in the statement. "This has been a very stressful situation. She is putting her personal health and family first. ABC has been wonderfully understanding and supportive of her personal decision to leave The View.”

Next week will be O'Donnell's last on the show.

The Emmy-winning actress and comedian returned to the panel last September, and rumors of her departure had already begun to swirl by December.

O'Donnell previously co-hosted the show for one season before her turbulent exit in 2007, in part because of frequent spats with then co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

The View has been making major changes since show founder Barbara Walters retired last May. Just weeks before O'Donnell's return was announced in July, Sherri Shepherd and Jenna McCarthy also left the show.

"When she told us that she wanted to exit The View, we respected and understood her desire to put her well-being and her family first," ABC said in a statement, according to Reuters.

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