Ellen DeGeneres Claims She Was ‘Kicked Out of Show Business’ for ‘Being Mean’
In a recent stand-up act, Ellen DeGeneres addressed the toxic workplace scandal that surrounded her former talk show, revealing that she felt she was “kicked out of show business” for “being mean.” During her performance at West Hollywood’s Coronet Theater, Ellen, 66, spoke candidly about the perception of her as the “be kind” girl and how it contrasted with her true personality.
Reinventing Her Image
Ellen explained that her talk show persona had become a one-dimensional character who gave away gifts and danced up steps. She humorously questioned whether a mean person would go through the effort of dancing up steps. In fact, she joked that if she had ended her show by saying, “go f–k yourself,” people would have been pleasantly surprised.
The Backlash and Rejection
Ellen also reflected on the backlash she faced after publicly coming out as gay on her sitcom “Ellen” in 1997. While she made history, the show ended the following year, and Hollywood turned against her. She humorously predicted that the industry might turn on her again, jokingly saying, “eventually they’re going to kick me out for a third time because I’m mean, old, and gay.”
Regarding her talk show, Ellen acknowledged that she had experienced a shift in public opinion. She joked about the irony of giving away gifts and dancing on her show, only to be perceived as mean by some. This perception ultimately led to the internal investigation of her show’s workplace environment.
Taking Responsibility
After numerous complaints about a toxic work environment emerged, WarnerMedia launched an internal investigation into “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in July 2020. Following the investigation, Ellen announced that three executive producers had been let go. In a memo to her staff, she took responsibility for the show’s culture, stating, “My name is on the show and everything we do, and I take responsibility for that.”
When the show returned for its new season in September 2020, Ellen addressed the allegations and expressed her remorse to the affected individuals. She acknowledged that things had happened on the show that should never have occurred and apologized to those who were impacted.
The End of an Era
In May 2021, Ellen announced that her talk show would be coming to an end after its upcoming 19th season. Despite the show’s conclusion, she maintained that she had no prior knowledge of the behind-the-scenes issues and unhappy staff members. During a May 2021 appearance on the “Today” show, Ellen expressed her confusion and disbelief about the allegations, describing them as orchestrated and coordinated.
Ellen also revealed that she wished someone had approached her with concerns about the work environment, emphasizing her desire to have been informed. She mentioned that she had always heard positive feedback from guests about the show’s happy atmosphere and environment.
While Ellen DeGeneres faced significant backlash and a tarnished reputation due to the toxic workplace scandal, she used her stand-up act as an opportunity to address the situation honestly. By sharing her perspective and experiences, she aimed to shed light on the complexities of her public image and the challenges she faced in the entertainment industry.
