Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
Cover Stories?
Aired November 04, 2003 - 07:45 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Rosie O'Donnell is accusing the editor-in-chief of her now-defunct magazine of lying in court. The dispute yesterday centered on a cover photo that Rosie didn't like. Rosie and the magazine publisher are suing each other over the magazine's demise.
Mary Snow is following this trial and joins us this morning.
Nice to see you. Boy, it's getting ugly fast, isn't it?
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It certainly has. And, you know, Rosie O'Donnell really fired back yesterday after the court session.
This is a business deal that went sour, with now hundreds of millions of dollars at stake. And behind the scenes in court there is really a power struggle being painted over everything -- all of the details in the magazine, from celebrity covers to cake recipes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW (voice-over): Rosie O'Donnell was all smiles going into court, but inside the courtroom a picture was painted of the brasher side of the woman once dubbed the queen of nice.
The editor-in-chief of what was "Rosie" magazine, Susan Toepfer, testified about a clash she said she had with O'Donnell shortly after joining the magazine in July of 2002. Toepfer said O'Donnell called her screaming about a cover photo that she did not like. She quoted O'Donnell as saying, "You're trying to destroy me. I don't want to see my fat f-ing body on the cover." Toepfer said that O'Donnell later apologized.
In cross examination, O'Donnell's lawyers questioned Toepfer about claims she did not give O'Donnell much involvement in the choice of cover photos. They're trying to show that Toepfer was attempting to seize editorial control of the magazine, a job they said had been granted to O'Donnell.
Outside court, O'Donnell was asked about testimony regarding her sexuality. Toepfer quoted O'Donnell using the phrase "as a lesbian" in a statement in which she said the comedienne expressed concern about being on a cover physically close to other women. O'Donnell denied the statement.
ROSIE O'DONNELL, ENTERTAINER: I don't think in my entire life I've ever used the phrase "as a lesbian." So, all during lunch, I kept saying to people, 'as a lesbian, can you pass me the mayonnaise? As a lesbian, can I have diet coke?' As a lesbian? What? What?
SNOW: O'Donnell says she's looking forward to testifying Thursday and telling her side of the story.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Now, it was that cover that both sides agree led to the demise of the magazine. Gruner + Jahr, the publisher, is suing O'Donnell for $100 million. She countersued for $125 million, each side claiming they've breached the contract.
O'BRIEN: How long do you think that this trial is going to go on for?
SNOW: Not too long. All told, about another week, probably. She is expected to take the stand on Thursday. Today, they have a court holiday because it's election day.
O'BRIEN: No question that it will be interesting to watch on Thursday when she's on the stand.
SNOW: It certainly is. You know, she said yesterday, listen, what did I do? She said, in her words, I'm fat, I yell a lot, sometimes I curse, but this is $100 million that I'm now being sued for. And she said, really, it's not the money, it's the principle.
O'BRIEN: We will see what happens on Thursday. Mary Snow, thanks so much.
SNOW: Sure.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired November 4, 2003 - 07:45 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Rosie O'Donnell is accusing the editor-in-chief of her now-defunct magazine of lying in court. The dispute yesterday centered on a cover photo that Rosie didn't like. Rosie and the magazine publisher are suing each other over the magazine's demise.
Mary Snow is following this trial and joins us this morning.
Nice to see you. Boy, it's getting ugly fast, isn't it?
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It certainly has. And, you know, Rosie O'Donnell really fired back yesterday after the court session.
This is a business deal that went sour, with now hundreds of millions of dollars at stake. And behind the scenes in court there is really a power struggle being painted over everything -- all of the details in the magazine, from celebrity covers to cake recipes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW (voice-over): Rosie O'Donnell was all smiles going into court, but inside the courtroom a picture was painted of the brasher side of the woman once dubbed the queen of nice.
The editor-in-chief of what was "Rosie" magazine, Susan Toepfer, testified about a clash she said she had with O'Donnell shortly after joining the magazine in July of 2002. Toepfer said O'Donnell called her screaming about a cover photo that she did not like. She quoted O'Donnell as saying, "You're trying to destroy me. I don't want to see my fat f-ing body on the cover." Toepfer said that O'Donnell later apologized.
In cross examination, O'Donnell's lawyers questioned Toepfer about claims she did not give O'Donnell much involvement in the choice of cover photos. They're trying to show that Toepfer was attempting to seize editorial control of the magazine, a job they said had been granted to O'Donnell.
Outside court, O'Donnell was asked about testimony regarding her sexuality. Toepfer quoted O'Donnell using the phrase "as a lesbian" in a statement in which she said the comedienne expressed concern about being on a cover physically close to other women. O'Donnell denied the statement.
ROSIE O'DONNELL, ENTERTAINER: I don't think in my entire life I've ever used the phrase "as a lesbian." So, all during lunch, I kept saying to people, 'as a lesbian, can you pass me the mayonnaise? As a lesbian, can I have diet coke?' As a lesbian? What? What?
SNOW: O'Donnell says she's looking forward to testifying Thursday and telling her side of the story.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Now, it was that cover that both sides agree led to the demise of the magazine. Gruner + Jahr, the publisher, is suing O'Donnell for $100 million. She countersued for $125 million, each side claiming they've breached the contract.
O'BRIEN: How long do you think that this trial is going to go on for?
SNOW: Not too long. All told, about another week, probably. She is expected to take the stand on Thursday. Today, they have a court holiday because it's election day.
O'BRIEN: No question that it will be interesting to watch on Thursday when she's on the stand.
SNOW: It certainly is. You know, she said yesterday, listen, what did I do? She said, in her words, I'm fat, I yell a lot, sometimes I curse, but this is $100 million that I'm now being sued for. And she said, really, it's not the money, it's the principle.
O'BRIEN: We will see what happens on Thursday. Mary Snow, thanks so much.
SNOW: Sure.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
