How many times has this one claimed she was leaving, closing up shop?
Ellen DeGeneres, the beloved talk show host and comedian, recently announced her retirement from show business during a stand-up performance in Santa Rosa on July 1. Reflecting on her career, DeGeneres humorously remarked about being “kicked out of show business for being mean,” alluding to her tumultuous fall from grace that began with a single tweet and spiraled into a full-blown controversy.
Ellen DeGeneres reportedly announces her retirement | Click on the image to read the full story https://t.co/yPA7G7H1NI
— WESH 2 News (@WESH) July 12, 2024
DeGeneres, 65, revealed that her upcoming Netflix special, “Ellen’s Last Stand… Up Tour,” would be her final performance, signaling the end of her illustrious career. Despite canceling several tour dates, she is still set to perform in San Francisco on July 20 and continue the tour in other cities through August.
The comedian’s candid comments bring to mind the events of 2020 when her reputation took a severe hit following accusations of fostering a toxic work environment on her daytime talk show. These allegations were first brought to light by a tweet from comedian and podcaster Kevin T. Porter, who invited people to share their “most insane stories” about DeGeneres being mean. The tweet garnered over 2,000 responses, many detailing unpleasant encounters with DeGeneres or second-hand accounts of her behavior.
Ellen DeGeneres wouldn’t be the first celebrity to announce retirement from the spotlight — whether or not she’ll actually walk away is the real question. https://t.co/Fnm9uTlXUh
— DC News Now (@DCNewsNow) July 12, 2024
The tweet catalyzed a series of events, including a damning Buzzfeed News investigation that described the show’s workplace as one rife with “racism, fear, and intimidation.” DeGeneres was accused of playing favorites and being unapproachable. The revelations led to an internal investigation, and DeGeneres issued a public apology. However, the damage was done, and she announced the end of her talk show the following spring after its 19th season.
Kevin T. Porter’s tweet and the subsequent social media backlash were compounded by DeGeneres’ perceived insensitivity during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Filming from her luxurious home, she made a joke comparing her lockdown experience to that of being in jail, which many found tone-deaf given the dire circumstances faced by millions.
Amid the growing backlash, past clips from her show resurfaced, highlighting awkward interactions and potential red flags. One notable incident was a 2019 interview with actress Dakota Johnson, where Johnson corrected DeGeneres on-air about not attending her birthday party, despite being invited. This moment added fuel to the fire, painting DeGeneres in a negative light.
Despite the controversies, DeGeneres used her platform in Santa Rosa to reflect on her career with dark humor, acknowledging her demanding and impatient nature while firmly denying the accusations of being mean. She reminisced about being ousted from the industry once before in 1998, when her sitcom “Ellen” was canceled after she came out as gay. She joked that next time, she might be kicked out for being “old, gay, and mean.”
Ellen DeGeneres’ 27-stop farewell tour is her official retirement tour https://t.co/Pt1cccLiaR
— This Is The Conversation Project (@th_conversation) July 11, 2024
In her farewell, DeGeneres maintained that she might be many things, but she is not mean, leaving her audience with a mixture of laughter and contemplation as she bids adieu to her storied career.
Key Points:
- Ellen DeGeneres announced her retirement from show business during a stand-up performance, citing her Netflix special as her final act.
- DeGeneres humorously reflected on being “kicked out of show business for being mean,” referencing her fall from grace starting in 2020.
- The controversy began with a tweet from comedian Kevin T. Porter, leading to a Buzzfeed investigation and accusations of a toxic work environment on her show.
- DeGeneres’ perceived insensitivity during the COVID-19 pandemic and resurfaced clips from her show further fueled the backlash.
- Despite acknowledging her demanding nature, DeGeneres firmly denied being mean, ending her career with humor and introspection.
Charles William III – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
