Ellen DeGeneres sought therapy after being labeled 'America's most hated'
In her latest Netflix stand-up special, For Your Approval, comedian Ellen DeGeneres candidly addressed the controversies that have plagued her career. The 66-year-old humorist told her audience, "I got kicked out of show business because I'm mean," adding, "You can't be mean and be in show business. They'll kick you out. No mean people in show business." The special was recorded at Minneapolis's Orpheum Theatre before a sold-out crowd last month.
'Mean, old, and gay, the triple crown...'
Further in the comedy special, DeGeneres humorously referred to this as her second strike, recalling how she was previously ousted from show business after publicly coming out as gay in 1997. She joked about a potential third strike due to ageism, stating, "Eventually they're going to kick me out a third time for being old—mean, old and gay, the triple crown."
She addressed rumors about her 'mean' persona
The Finding Dory star also addressed rumors about her being "mean." She said, "Yeah, you all heard I was mean. Everybody heard that I was mean. Everywhere I go, I know everyone's heard that I'm mean." "I know when I walk into a restaurant, people are watching, waiting to see if I'll be mean. 'Do you think she'll be mean first and then dance?' 'Oh look, she's reaching for butter. I thought she was going to hit somebody.'"
DeGeneres's therapy journey post-toxic workplace allegations
DeGeneres also discussed her experience of being labeled "the most hated person in America" following the toxic workplace scandal. She revealed that she sought therapy to cope with the hatred directed toward her, stating, "I was in therapy for a while trying to deal with all the hatred that was coming at me." "And you know, it was not a common situation for a therapist to deal with."
DeGeneres's self-reflection and personal struggles
In her special, DeGeneres also reflected on her personal struggles with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), and her mother's dementia. She admitted that she didn't care what people thought about her at the height of her popularity but now admits that she does care what people think. Toward the end of the special, she stated, "I am tough, and I am impatient, I am demanding and I am direct...I am a strong woman."
