Ellen DeGeneres announced she’s returning to Netflix for an hour-long comedy special later this year, saying it’s likely her last.
The second special on the streaming site from the former daytime talk show host comes following her return to stand-up after 15 years in 2018’s “Relatable,” Deadline reported.
DeGeneres has hinted that she would talk about the end of her successful talk show in the new special, which came to an end after 19 seasons in 2022 following claims that her set had been a “toxic” workplace environment.
“To answer the questions everyone is asking me – Yes, I’m going to talk about it,” DeGeneres said. “Yes, this is my last special. Yes, Portia [de Rossi], really is that pretty in real life.”
Ellen Degeneres will return to Netflix with a new hour-long comedy special later this year, Deadline has learned https://t.co/1wmW6345mU pic.twitter.com/Whc5F7Xnu5
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) May 13, 2024
Robbie Praw, VP of Stand-Up and Comedy Formats at Netflix, said, “There is nobody quite like Ellen. She is a true legend and pioneer in so many ways. We can’t wait to bring fans another one of her hilarious comedy specials later this year.”
DeGeneres recently talked about being “kicked out of show business” for being “mean” during a comedy show at the Largo in Los Angeles, according to People.
The former talk show host claimed to have become the “most hated person in America” after the report about “The Ellen Show” 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.
“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,” DeGeneres said during the show, 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 the fact that her show had been canceled in the 1990s shortly after she came out as gay.
“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.”
“I’m making jokes about what happened to me, but it was devastating,” DeGeneres continued during a Q&A portion. “It took a long time for me to want to do anything again.”
The comedian added, “I love that show so much” and “hated the way the show ended.”
Amanda Harding contributed to this piece.