From the outside, it sure looks like Rosie O’Donnell’s relationship with partner Kelli Carpenter is as solid as can be. The two have a gaggle of kids, are very active together in various charities and children’s organizations, and seem to spend a lot of time together on vacations and such. But new reports say that Rosie is very jealous of any other woman “close” with Kelli.

Rosie O’Donnell exploded in a jealous rage at longtime lover Kelli Carpenter over her relationship with another woman, sources say.

The “other” woman, 40-year-old Broadway star and singer Julia Murney, has been a friend of both Rosie and Kelli for several years – but Rosie flipped out when it appeared that Kelli and Julia were developing a close bond. And though there’s no indication that there was anything romantic going on between Kelli and Julia, Rosie tore into her partner when she learned that the two women may have shared a friendly kiss, revealed a close source.

“Rosie is very protective of Kelli and really freaked out when she heard about the lip lock,” The source told The Enquirer. “Rosie believed she was being betrayed, and it erupted into a nasty and bitter showdown with Kelli over her perceived cheating – even though Kelli told Rosie she and Julia were only friends and nothing more.”

Rosie met Julia several years ago in theater circles. Kelli was introduced to her in 2004 on the inaugural R Family Vacations Cruise for gay and lesbian families. Julia has performed on the ship for Rosie’s cruises since they began, except for 2007 when her work in “Wicked” wouldn’t permit it.

Coincidentally, that was the only year that Kelli missed the cruise as well – and the absence of both women sent tongues wagging.

“After the seven-day excursion, there was talk around Broadway that Kelli and Julia’s relationship was picking up steam and that they ended up seeing each other that fall and into 2008,” says the source.

But Julia – best known for starring as Elphaba in the Broadway show “Wicked” – had no intention of getting between Rosie and Kellie, insists the source.

“Julia’s friendship with Kelli – and Rosie – has always been honorable, and she hates that Rosie may have thought otherwise,” says the source.

On March 10, Julia’s publicist Charley Walters told the Enquirer: “No way has Julia ever been involved in a romantic relationship with Kelli.

“While Julia is a popular performer with the gay community and has many gay friends, I want to stress…that she herself is in no way, shape or form a lesbian.

“If…a kiss did take place, I’m sure it was innocent and friendly. If something deeper was going on between them that they wanted to keep private from Rosie, it would have taken place in private and not out in the open.

“They are all just friends.”

When contacted by The Enquirer, Rosie’s publicist denied there was any ill will over Kelli’s friendship with Julia.

Since Rosie’s blowup, Kelli has let her friendship with Julia wane, adds the source.

“I think Rosie knows deep down in her heart that Kelli hasn’t strayed. She’s just wary of the motives of any other woman who gives her lover a second look, let alone a kiss!”

[From The National Enquirer print version, April 13, 2009]

It sounds like much ado about nothing to me. So two women shared a friendly peck. One of them isn’t even a lesbian, so what’s the big whoop? I think Rosie’s somewhat of a nutjob, but even she wouldn’t “flip out” over that. Would she?

Here’s Rosie and Kelli at the ‘Sherie Rene Scott: You May Now Worship Me’ benefit concert at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre in New York City in March, 2008. Images thanks to WENN .