Ellen DeGeneres has used her toxic-workplace allegations as joking content. The 66-year-old comedian and actress stood in the spotlight for a Thursday night set at Largo at the Coronet Theatre in Los Angeles on April 25, 2024. During the set, which marked the first of her Ellen’s Last Stand … Up Tour, she jokingly told the audience, “I got kicked out of show business" before sarcastically adding, “There’s no mean people in show business."
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Things all came to light in 2021.
Ellen ended her daytime talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, in 2021 after allegations about its toxic work environment caused ratings to drop tremendously. The allegations included claims of sexual misconduct involving the top producers as well as racism and intimidation.
Ellen did address the allegations at the time.
In a statement to the Hollywood Reporter, Ellen shared her personal reasons for ending the show after 19 seasons. “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,” she said.
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Next, an investigation took place.
After an investigation was launched, she sent a letter to her staff in response to the former employees who'd said racism, fear, and intimidation were common in the work environment. Ellen then said that she'd relied on others to stay on top of the daily operation but soon came to the realization that “my name is on the show and everything we do and I take responsibility for that.”
Ellen didn't like what happened next.
According to an interview with People, Ellen wasn't fond of how she became the “most hated person in America” after the allegations were made public. She also told Rolling Stone that she “didn’t know how to be a boss” for a production as large as her talk show.
She shared some truths about how it all affected her.
The comedian revealed that “it’s been such a toll on my ego and my self-esteem,” since the allegations. She also shared her opinion on the “extremes in this business” of being idolized or hated as a celebrity.
Watch this video to hear more about Ellen's set at Largo at the Coronet Theatre.
