Rosie O’Donnell isn’t holding back when it comes to the best — and worst — guests she’s had on her iconic talk show. And surprising, Hollywood’s most universally adored stars made her “worst” list: Keanu Reeves.
Yes, that Keanu Reeves — the beloved John Wick and Matrix actor who’s become the internet’s favorite good guy. O’Donnell, 62, shared the surprising confession while appearing on Australian talk show Sam Pang Tonight on Monday, October 13.
After naming Barbra Streisand as her favorite guest and Martin Short as the best guest, O’Donnell revealed that Reeves’ 1997 appearance on The Rosie O’Donnell Show was unexpectedly challenging.
“One of the worst, who, I love the guy, but he’s not good on talk shows: Keanu Reeves,” she told the audience, who audibly gasped.
“He’s so sweet, he looks gorgeous, I love all his movies, but he would not answer a question,” Rosie explained. “I’d say, ‘So, Keanu, how’s it going? How are you feeling?’ ‘Good.’ … We were live. We couldn’t retape. I finally said after like three minutes, ‘You know, Keanu, it is a talk show. You have to talk.’”
According to Rosie, Reeves eventually “got the hang of it” when he returned to the show later. “But he’s a lovely man and a good-hearted guy, so I don’t wanna throw him under the bus,” she added.
Of course, Rosie couldn’t resist throwing someone under the bus. “I could have said Tom Selleck, which would have been easy to do,” she quipped, referencing her infamous 1999 interview with the Blue Bloods star.
The fiery exchange with Selleck came shortly after the Columbine High School tragedy. At the time, Selleck had appeared in a full-page NRA advertisement that read, “I am the NRA. Shooting teaches children good values.” Rosie recalled, “It was very awkward, because I had never been unkind or controversial, but Columbine had just happened. It was 1999, and he had an ad in magazines that said, ‘I am the NRA, shooting teaches children good values,’ and I was so torn up about Columbine that I just didn’t give up. Like an innocent idiot, I said to my staff, ‘Do you think that will get any press?'”
The interview made major headlines, with Selleck accusing O’Donnell of “questioning my humanity” as she pressed him about his responsibility for gun deaths.
