O'Donnell Files Countersuit Against G+J
Lisa Granatstein, MediaWeek

As Dan Brewster, president/CEO of G+J USA Publishing, welcomed attendees to the American Magazine Conference in Phoenix Monday, ex-publishing partner Rosie O'Donnell fired her salvo at the Magazine Publishers of America chairman, and his company.

O'Donnell and her attorneys filed a breach of contract countersuit against G+J USA for more than $125 million.

The suit, which was filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, also asks for an unspecified punitive and compensatory damages against the publishing company and Brewster for "unathorized and disparaging statements to the press."

At the center of O'Donnell's response to G+J's suit, is her accusation that G+J "under intense pressure" coererced her to agree to a change in the editor in chief, replacing Cathy Cavender with People veteran Susan Toepfer. O'Donnell's suit also noted that she disagreed with the firing of creative director Doug Turshen.

O'Donnell denied reported allegations that she would take down Brewster, during a heated disagreement. Rather, she claims in the suit, the conversation was that "Brewster said 'I'll ruin you.' O'Donnell replied, 'You'll bring me down? You're coming with me.'"

Also O'Donnell stated in the suit that Toepfer's inclination was to "sensationalize celebrity stories," which she claimed countered her own editorial vision. "Toepfer also suggested covers featuring celebrities who were in the midst of personal tragedies."

Then, in July, O'Donnell claims that Brewster ordered the staff to report directly to Toepfer, not O'Donnell, as part of a "hostile takeover" of the magazine. In doing so, O'Donnell says Brewster made an example of Turshen by firing him.

"G+J has reviewed Rosie O'Donnell's complaint and we stand by our version of the facts," a company spokeswoman said. "G+J is confident that we will prevail in the litigation."

The final December issue of Rosie hits stands in November.