Ellen Degeneres addresses 'toxic' workplace allegations in her stand-up show
Comedian Ellen DeGeneres made a notable return to the stand-up stage on Wednesday with her new tour, Ellen's Last Stand...Up Tour. During her performance in Los Angeles, she candidly addressed the controversial end of her long-standing talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show. The acclaimed daytime program concluded in May 2022 after two decades on air amidst allegations of a toxic work environment.
DeGeneres joked about being ousted from entertainment industry
DeGeneres tackled the allegations of racism, sexual misconduct, and intimidation that led to an internal investigation into her show's working conditions in July 2020. The comedian joked about being ousted from the entertainment industry for "being mean" and reflected on her on-screen persona, saying, "I became this one-dimensional character who gave stuff away and danced up steps." "People either love you and idolize you or they hate you, and those people somehow are louder."
'I just hated the way the show ended'
DeGeneres also addressed reports of crew members' dissatisfaction with their COVID-19 pandemic compensation during her performance. Following these allegations and an apology from DeGeneres, WarnerMedia initiated a probe that resulted in the dismissal of three executive producers on grounds of sexual harassment and workplace toxicity in the show. In a Q&A session after her act, she expressed disappointment over the conclusion of her talk show, stating, "I just hated the way the show ended."
DeGeneres has maintained a low profile since her talk show
Since the end of her talk show, DeGeneres has maintained a relatively low profile. Her current stand-up tour marks her most significant public appearance in two years. More shows are scheduled in the upcoming months. During her act, she reflected on career highs and lows, reminding the audience of previous backlash when her '90s sitcom Ellen was canceled after she publicly came out as gay.
