Ellen DeGeneres Reflects on 2020 Workplace Controversy and Its Impact on Her Mental Health

Former daytime talk show host Ellen DeGeneres recently reflected on her 2020 workplace controversy in her farewell stand-up special, Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval, which was released on Tuesday, September 24, 2024. During this Netflix special, the comedian addressed the media headlines that labeled her the “most hated person in America.”She remarked:

“It’s a horrible thing to say about somebody, and to make it worse, there was no trophy, no awards banquet, nothing. Just the title.”

The 66-year-old humorously added:

“I made a sash at home and I wore that around just to feel like I had something.”

For those unaware, this controversy emerged in 2020 when BuzzFeed News published a report revealing a toxic environment on DeGeneres’ namesake talk show. Multiple crew members anonymously accused the producers of racism and misconduct, prompting an internal investigation that resulted in the dismissal of three producers.

During the opening monologue of season 18 of The Ellen DeGeneres Show in September 2020, Ellen addressed these accusations and sincerely apologized to her staff, accepting responsibility for the issues that arose on her show. She stated:

“I take that very seriously and I want to say I am so sorry to the people who were affected.”

A year later, she made the decision to end the show.

“It was not a common situation for a therapist to deal with”— Ellen DeGeneres discusses mental health struggles post-controversy

In her recent Netflix special, Ellen DeGeneres humorously touched upon the allegations surrounding the toxic workplace atmosphere. She joked that she got “kicked out of show business because (she was) mean,”noting that this was the second time she faced such backlash, referencing her coming out as a lesbian in 1997, which adversely affected her career and her ABC sitcom Ellen. She quipped:

“Eventually they’re going to kick me out a third time for being old — mean, old and gay, the triple crown.”

Ellen humorously pointed out that she made the error of promoting kindness on her talk show, suggesting that if she had concluded every episode with “go f*ck yourselves,”people would have been surprised to discover her true kindness.

In her special, Ellen DeGeneres also opened up about her mental health challenges, revealing that the controversy and its aftermath drove her to seek professional therapy. She explained:

“I was in therapy for a while trying to deal with all the hatred that was coming at me. And you know, it was not a common situation for a therapist to deal with.”

She humorously noted:

“At one point, my therapist said, ‘Ellen, where do you get this idea that everyone hates you?’ And I said, ‘Well, New York Times, Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly, Us Weekly. I think Elmo may have said something recently on an episode of Sesame Street.”

Ellen explained that her therapist advised her to steer clear of the news. However, she countered that she was already avoiding media, yet still received texts from friends conveying their support.

Earlier this year, the comedian embarked on her final stand-up tour, culminating at Minneapolis’ Orpheum Theater last month, where the Netflix special was recorded. Ellen performed in front of a sold-out audience, with her wife, Portia de Rossi, in attendance.

Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval is currently available for streaming on Netflix.

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