ELLEN DEGENERES ANNOUNCED HER DAY TIME TALK SHOW WILL COME TO AN END
After 18 years, Ellen DeGeneres announced that she will be ending her award-winning talk show amid unhealthy workplace allegations.
“When you’re a creative person, you constantly need to be challenged- and as great as this show is, and as fun as it is, it’s just not a challenge anymore,” DeGeneres explains to the Hollywood Reporter.
In July 2020, Ellen’s former employees expressed that they experienced racism, micro-aggressions, forms of intimidation, and fear while employed. She admits that the public backlash hurt her, but it definitely isn’t the reason for her leaving the show.
“It almost impacted the show,” says DeGeneres. “It was very hurtful to me. I mean, very. But if I was quitting the show because of that, I wouldn’t have come back this season. So, it’s not why I’m stopping, but it was hard.”
She says although, she had to go through the situation publicly it doesn’t take away from the years of fun! “Listen, this is my family. They’ve become my best friends. I come to work, and I laugh every single day,” she says.
“My brother was like, ‘People look forward to this show every day, and there aren’t many shows out there that are just pure joy like this,” DeGeneres tells Hollywood Reporter. “He’s always been my biggest advocate and — not that Portia isn’t, but she’s also selfish and wants me to do things that I’m challenged by, and she’s watched me come home every day saying, ‘I just feel like there’s something more I could be doing.”
Despite the toxic workplace allegations, Ellen’s show gave people a platform and a shot a stardom they wouldn’t otherwise had if it weren’t for the show. Ellen brought in nearly $70 million in charitable donations and more than $300 million in audience giveaways.
“Although all good things must come to an end, you still have hope that truly great things never will,” says Warner Bros.’ unscripted TV president Mike Darnell. Darnell has urged DeGeneres to reconsider her decision to leave the show. He describes the show “an absolute phenomenon” and “the premier destination for both superstars and incredible heartfelt human-interest stories.”
