Ellen DeGeneres Opens Up About Toxic Workplace Claims That Ended Her Talk Show: "It Was Devastating"

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Summary Ellen DeGeneres shared her reaction to the allegations that she created a toxic workplace environment.

Ellen felt "devastated" after becoming "the most hated person in America."

Ellen feels that she was reduced to a one-dimensional character.

Ellen DeGeneres has shared her candid reaction to her toxic workplace allegations and the end of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. The comedian, who has held prominent acting roles in projects including the sitcom The Ellen Show and the Pixar animated hits Finding Nemo and Finding Dory, began hosting the daytime talk show in 2003. The show ended in 2022 after 19 episodes and 3,294 total episodes following allegations of the star creating a toxic workplace environment that came out in a Buzzfeed News report published in July 2020.

Per People, DeGeneres discussed her reaction to the toxic workplace accusations during a recent comedy set at Largo in Los Angeles. Although she didn't directly address the content of the allegations, she shared her reaction to the report, saying that she became "the most hated person in America", which was "devastating." She also reflected that she was reduced into a "one-dimensional character" based on the public's perceptions of her onscreen persona, her "be kind" slogan, and her habit of dancing while introducing her show. Read DeGeneres' full quote below:

[I was] kicked out of show business [for being] "mean." [I became the] most hated person in America. The hate went on for a long time and I would try to avoid looking at the news. The "be kind" girl wasn't kind. That was the headline. [People thought of me as a] one-dimensional character who gave stuff away and danced up steps. [I didn't dance during the scandal.] It's hard to dance when you're crying. [I] had a hard time [and] didn't get out. [I was] in a funk. [My wife] Portia de Rossi... was watching it happen to me... she went through it with me. [Now] I'm making jokes about what happened to me, but it was devastating. It took a long time for me to want to do anything again. [I] hated the way the show ended. [I] loved that show so much. [However, I'm happy to provide] joy [during] a scary time. I think that we need more laughter and less drama.

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Source: People