Ellen DeGeneres, renowned host and comedian, marked her return to the stage two years after the end of her talk show, humorously confronting the controversies that surrounded her farewell to television.
On his new comedy tour, Ellen’s Last Stand…Up Tourwhich will soon be available in NetflixDeGeneres opened the first night with a performance on hollywoodoffering reflections on her career and recent challenges, including accusations of a toxic work environment that eventually led to the end of her show after 19 seasons.
DeGeneres, 66, shared with the Los Angeles audience her experience after her show closed, mentioning how she took up gardening and collecting pet chickens. However, it was his comment “Oh yeah, I got kicked out of showbiz. There are no bad people in show business.”, which set the tone of his performance, addressing criticism with his characteristic humor.
This statement, along with reflections on the impact on your self-esteem and your relationship with Portia de Rossihis wife, reveals an introspective look at how the accusations and public scrutiny have affected his personal and professional life.
The controversy broke out when employees of the show Ellen Degeneres They accused the executive producers of fostering a toxic work environmentwhich led to the dismissal of three producers following allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment.
Despite apologizing on air, DeGeneres announced in May 2021 that her show would end the following year, thus closing an important chapter in her television career.
The presenter also recalled her departure from television in the 1990s, after publicly revealing her homosexuality, suggesting that her recent experience represented the second time she was “expelled from show business”. And he added: “In the end they are going to kick me out for the third time because I am bad, old and a lesbian”.
The comedian expressed how the negativity and criticism continued to affect her, saying: “The criticism lasted a long time and tried to avoid watching the news. ‘The girl in ‘Be Nice’ wasn’t nice.‘. “That was the headline.”
“I became a one-dimensional character who gave things away and danced up stairs… Would a bad person dance up stairs? “If I had ended my show by saying, ‘Fuck you,’ people would have been pleasantly surprised,” she added.
In her return to the stage, Ellen not only dealt with her recent past with humor, but also offered moments of genuine reflection on the emotional toll of her departure from the show and how this affected his marriage to Portia de Rossi.
The couple, married since same-sex partnerships were legalized in California in 2008, jointly suffered the weight of the scandal. “It’s hard to dance when you’re crying”, he admitted.
The performance of Ellen Degeneres culminated with a question-and-answer session, during which an audience member highlighted how the comedian inspired others with her ability to overcome difficult times.
Throughout her career, DeGeneres has been a polarizing figure, loved by many while others have expressed dislike. However, her ability to address these experiences with candor and humor offers insight into her resilience and her desire to move forward, away from “hate and negativity.”
In May 2021, Ellen announced that her daytime talk show would be ending after 19 seasons. This decision came amid detailed reports of allegations of a toxic work environment, which included sexual misconduct, racism and bullying by some of the show’s executive producers.
Despite not getting an immediate response from program representatives, he told The Hollywood Reporter that the next season would be her last, noting that the show no longer represented a creative challenge for her.
These allegations had a significant impact on the show, which saw a decline in its ratings and difficulties attracting advertisers and A-list celebrities. DeGeneres initially responded to the allegations with a letter to staff, taking responsibility and promising change, which led to the executive producers being fired. Ed Glavin, Kevin Lemanand co-executive producer Jonathan Norman.
However, the reputation of Ellen Degeneres and their mantra to “be kind to each other” was challenged, not only by current and former employees, but also by public figures who shared negative experiences.
