AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND — American comedian and talk show personality Rosie O’Donnell has made headlines once again — but this time, it’s not for a stand-up routine or feud with a former president. No, this time it’s for applying for New Zealand citizenship, declaring tearfully in an Instagram Live that she just wants to “breathe clean air and live somewhere with empathy… like where Jacinda used to be.”

But while the move was quickly praised by her Hollywood circle as “brave,” “inspirational,” and “the beginning of her healing era,” many Kiwis aren’t exactly rolling out the welcome mat.

“I moved here to escape L.A. types like her,” said Liam Carter, a Wellington native and former expat. “Now they’re following us like vegan chain stores with Wi-Fi.”

Rosie’s Pilgrimage to the Promised Land of Progressivism

O’Donnell, who has been openly critical of American politics — particularly under Republican leadership — cited rising “toxicity,” “hate speech,” and “non-organic food” in the U.S. as reasons for her relocation. In her announcement, she praised New Zealand as “a beacon of light” and said she had been spiritually drawn to the country ever since former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern “smiled through a pandemic with grace.”

“I just want to live where Jacinda used to walk, where people care, where leaders cry,” Rosie said, her voice breaking. “I think I could finally become myself there.”

Her statement has already sparked a TikTok trend under the hashtag #WhereJacindaUsedTo, featuring liberal Americans fantasizing about sheep, scenery, and socialized medicine — often while editing themselves into Lord of the Rings backdrops.

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For many New Zealanders, O’Donnell’s romanticized vision of Aotearoa is not just misguided — it’s offensive.

“We don’t want to be the fantasy rehab clinic for failed liberal celebrities,” said Tiare Moana, a social worker in Rotorua. “We’re a real country with real problems, not a coastal elite mood board.”

Residents have expressed concern that O’Donnell’s application — and the cultural trend it represents — could fuel a wave of political migration from disillusioned Americans seeking to live in countries they consider ideologically pure.

Some refer to this as “virtue tourism gone rogue.” One viral meme shows Rosie photoshopped into a traditional Māori pōwhiri ceremony holding a soy latte with the caption: “I’m spiritually decolonizing — gently.”

“We’ve got our own housing crisis, our own social division, and now we’re expected to host every celebrity who wants to cosplay as an ethical expat?” said one Auckland barista. “No thank you.”

The Problem with Celebrity Utopianism

Critics argue this is part of a larger pattern among American public figures — particularly progressive celebrities — who escape to countries like New Zealand, Canada, or the Nordic nations when things get politically uncomfortable at home.

But rather than engaging with the real culture and challenges of their new homes, they often bring with them the very politics and class privilege they claim to be fleeing.

“They show up thinking Jacinda is still in office, rent is free, and everyone hugs trees professionally,” said one Christchurch teacher. “Then they complain when they see a McDonald’s.”

Even within the left-leaning political space in New Zealand, frustration is growing over the outsized cultural influence of American liberalism. As one commentator noted, “It’s colonialism with tote bags and pronouns.”

Citizenship Pending — But Opinion Already Formed

New Zealand immigration officials confirmed that O’Donnell’s citizenship application is being processed, though they declined to comment on specifics. When asked about public backlash, a spokesperson said only, “We evaluate all applicants fairly, regardless of fame or former talk shows.”

As for O’Donnell, she appears unfazed. She posted a new video this week standing on a cliff in Queenstown with wind in her hair, saying: “This land forgives. Unlike Twitter.”

But for many Kiwis, the message is simple.

“We wish her well,” said Carter, the Wellington resident. “Just preferably from a distance. Like, say, Tasmania.”