Ellen DeGeneres, once one of television’s biggest stars, experienced a swift fall from grace in a matter of months. From 2003 to 2022, her show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, was a major success, collecting awards and commendations. DeGeneres herself was celebrated for her kind and humorous persona. However, in 2020, revelations about the host’s behavior behind the scenes led to a significant backlash.
Former employees shared harrowing stories, portraying DeGeneres as displaying cruel, vindictive, and racist behavior, starkly contrasting her public persona. Allegations included creating a toxic on-set atmosphere, bullying, racist micro-aggressions, and mistreatment of employees who spoke out about issues. The replacement of the crew with non-union members during the COVID-19 pandemic added fuel to the fire.
The turning point in public opinion occurred during a 2019 interview with Dakota Johnson, where DeGeneres was corrected for claiming she hadn’t been invited to a party. Johnson revealed that DeGeneres had been invited but had declined due to a conflicting engagement. Fans began to see a less likable side of DeGeneres, and the tide turned against her.
While DeGeneres apologized for the accusations made by former employees at the start of her show’s 18th season, she continued as the host for another season before officially announcing the show’s cancellation after 19 seasons in 2021. The show concluded in 2022, and DeGeneres largely retreated from the public eye.
Since then, DeGeneres has maintained a low profile, occasionally posting on Instagram to share old videos of her favorite interviews, updates on giveaways, and glimpses into her home life with wife Portia de Rossi. She appears to be focused on highlighting past successes and living a more private life. Despite occasional updates, DeGeneres remains mostly out of the spotlight, embracing a level of privacy she did not have in the past.
