Ellen DeGeneres opened up about her struggles and comeback as she began her stand-up comedy tour in West Hollywood after facing a blow to her ego due to falling out of favor with the public following the toxic workplace scandal that led to the end of her long-running talk show. DeGeneres admitted to feeling hurt and expressing that her career lows had taken a toll on her self-esteem. Despite this, she received a roaring applause at her sold-out show, marking her first comedy tour since 2018.
DeGeneres addressed the allegations made by former employees of The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2020, accusing her of fostering a toxic work environment that tolerated bullying, racism, and sexual harassment by executives. She insisted in a letter to staff that she was unaware of any toxicity behind the scenes and later labeled it a ‘coordinated misogynistic’ attack on her. Throughout her set, she humorously poked fun at her downfall, acknowledging her past difficulties both in this instance and when her sitcom Ellen was canceled in 1998 after she came out as gay.
The comedian candidly admitted that she struggled with her role as a boss despite being the face of her show, joking about her lack of business acumen. DeGeneres also discussed the hurt she felt about the way her talk show legacy ended, expressing that she couldn’t gain perspective on the situation and hated that it concluded in such a manner. She announced that her stand-up tour would be taped for a Netflix special in the fall, with additional shows to be added to her tour schedule following its initial announcement.
The toxic workplace scandal led to the firing of three executive producers from The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and the show came under investigation by WarnerMedia. The host issued an apology to her staff, stating that she was disappointed to learn that the work environment on her show did not align with her vision of it being a place of happiness and respect. Numerous allegations surfaced, including claims of bullying, microaggressions, and sexual misconduct by senior executives. DeGeneres faced scrutiny for allegedly failing to address these issues and creating a hostile workplace.
As The Ellen DeGeneres Show ended its 19-season run in 2022, Ellen DeGeneres insisted that the toxic workplace scandal was not the reason for its conclusion, maintaining that she had always planned to end the series after season 19. She aimed to have a fantastic final season with surprises and trips down memory lane to honor her loyal fans. The finale episode featured Jennifer Aniston as her last guest, and DeGeneres opened up about struggling with anxiety and depression during the aftermath of the scandal. Despite facing difficulties, she remained determined to move forward and make a comeback with her stand-up tour.
