Former daytime talk show host Ellen DeGeneres discussed her departure from television following claims of a “toxic” workplace during a new standup set.
The 66-year-old celeb reflected on being “kicked out of show business” for being “mean” during a comedy show at the Largo in Los Angeles last week, per People.
DeGeneres also claimed to have become the “most hated person in America” after the report about “Ellen” being a toxic workplace full of intimidation and even alleged sexual abuse was published by Buzzfeed News in July 2020. DeGeneres denied knowledge of any wrongdoing but apologized to employees and fans anyway.
“I take [the allegations] very seriously and I want to say I am so sorry to the people who were affected. I know that I’m in a position of privilege and power and I realized that with that comes responsibility, and I take responsibility for what happens at my show,” she said in September 2020.
The show was canceled shortly after, though it was never disclosed if the scandal was the driving decision in ending “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” after 19 seasons.
“The hate went on for a long time and I would try to avoid looking at the news,” she recalled. “The ‘be kind’ girl wasn’t kind. That was the headline,” she said, per the outlet.
She reminded the audience how she concluded each episode of her eponymous talk show by reminding viewers to “Be kind to one another.” DeGeneres said that line became a “problem” because viewers started seeing her as a “one-dimensional character who gave stuff away and danced up steps.”
“For those of you keeping score, this is the second time I’ve been kicked out of show business…Eventually they’re going to kick me out for a third time because I’m mean, old, and gay,” she joked, referencing being shunned after coming out as gay in the 1990s and having her show canceled.
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“It’s been such a toll on my ego and my self-esteem,” DeGeneres added. “There’s such extremes in this business, people either love you and idolize you or they hate you, and those people somehow are louder.”
When an audience member asked if she danced during hard times during a Q&A portion of her set, DeGeneres quipped, “No… It’s hard to dance when you’re crying.” She also admitted to having “a hard time” and not going out after the scandal went viral.
“I’m making jokes about what happened to me, but it was devastating,” DeGeneres added. “It took a long time for me to want to do anything again.”
The comedian added that she “hated the way the show ended” because she “loved that show so much.”