Rosie O’Donnell Recruits Epstein Survivors for a Pointed Musical Takedown, Directly Challenging Trump’s Dark Ties to the Disgraced Financier
Survivors speak out.
Rosie O’Donnell has taken a bold and musical stand by recruiting survivors of Jeffrey Epstein to perform a rendition of the 1972 feminist anthem I Am Woman by Helen Reddy, per Deadline. The performance serves as a direct challenge to the current administration and specifically targets the recent rhetoric coming from within the Department of Justice. It is a powerful moment that aims to keep the spotlight on the Epstein files, even as official investigations seem to stall.
According to the Daily Beast the project came to life after O’Donnell grew frustrated with comments made by Todd Blanche, the acting Attorney General. In July, Blanche suggested that he did not know if there were men out there who abused these women, a statement that struck a nerve with many who have followed the case closely.
O’Donnell, who has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump for years, decided that a simple social media post was not enough. She reached out to several women who survived the sex trafficking ring operated by the late financier.
O’Donnell was using her platform to amplify victims’ voices and demand accountability
The group of Epstein survivors who joined O’Donnell for the performance included Andrea Sterling, Sharlene Rochard, Lara Blume McGee, Jena-lisa Jones, Wendy Pesante, Lisa Phillips, Marina Lacerda, and Chauntae Davies. In the video, they are seen dressed in white, standing side by side to belt out the iconic lyrics.
Before they began, O’Donnell took a moment to address them directly. She told the women that she knows it has been very hard for them and that they have received very little support. She added, “I’m sorry that our country’s so f—ed up,” and emphasized that they are heroes who are going to change how the world deals with child sex abuse.
O’Donnell explained that she chose the song I Am Woman because it taught her how to use her own voice when she was just 10 years old. She shared the video on Instagram on Thursday, September 3, 2026, accompanying it with a caption that did not hold back.
She wrote about “the corrupt AG and Trump’s former personal lawyer,” noting that he implied he did not believe men accused of sex abuse would be charged as a result of the Epstein files, despite what she described as mountains of evidence. O’Donnell encouraged her followers to show their support for abuse survivors, to be brave enough to speak out, and to participate by posting their own duets or videos singing the song.
The project is just the latest chapter in the long-standing tension between O’Donnell and Trump
During her recent week-long guest hosting stint on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, she made headlines for her biting humor and direct mockery of the administration. She even serenaded the President with a scathing take on the Irish folk song Danny Boy, during which she urged him to resign. Her time on the show was marked by pointed jokes, including one about his aide, Natalie Harp, which prompted a swift and aggressive response from the White House.
The administration called O’Donnell a nasty woman and a total slob, claiming her brain had been destroyed by what they called the Trump Derangement Syndrome. O’Donnell, true to form, did not back down and responded by sharing a photo of the president at his Florida golf resort to highlight the irony of the insults.
The legal landscape surrounding these issues remains complex and frustrating for those seeking justice. As of September, federal prosecutors have not charged anyone named in the unsealed Epstein documents, even though there have been legal actions and arrests overseas against others accused in similar circles.
Trump has maintained his innocence in the Epstein case
The President has also been involved in a legal battle over a birthday letter he allegedly wrote to the financier. After a judge dismissed his $10 billion lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal over its reporting on that letter, Trump filed an amended suit in May. He has consistently denied writing the letter altogether.
The involvement of Jimmy Kimmel added another layer of visibility to the performance, as he shared the video on his Instagram Stories to help boost the message. It is clear that O’Donnell is determined to keep the pressure on the Department of Justice and ensure that the survivors are not forgotten. By blending activism with a classic, empowering song, she is trying to force a conversation that the current leadership seems eager to avoid.
Whether or not this musical protest leads to any concrete changes in how the Epstein files are handled, it certainly keeps the topic in the public eye. For now, O’Donnell is making it clear that she is not going anywhere, and she is bringing a group of resilient women with her to demand that the world pays attention to the truth.
(Featured image: Warrick Page/SHOWTIME)
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