Ellen DeGeneres was finally fired decided to end her talk show after 19 seasons next year. Ellen had a summer from Hell last year as allegations of a toxic workplace, harassment, and mistreatment of employees during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic tore her pristine reputation to shreds. But while Ellen may be ending her show, she doesn’t seem to be going down without a fight. Variety says that in an interview with Savannah Guthrie for Today, Ellen suggested that the attacks against her were “orchestrated” and that maybe the attention we all paid to her being allegedly evil was “misogynistic.” Ah yes, the final card Ellen has left to play: “I’m the REAL victim here.”
Before we get to Ellen thinking that all of the allegations against her were some kind of takedown, TMZ says that she got emotional about giving up that easy check during the opening monologue of today’s episode. Ellen said her show recently celebrated its 3000th episode and announced that next year will be its final season:
She said she always knew in her heart the upcoming 19th season would be her last, and she’s trusting her instincts as she prepares to walk away. Ellen got a little emotional during the monologue, but, of course, kept it funny too.
Ellen says 19 is a good number to go out on … pointing out the 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote, and making a joke about the periodic table and conversations with herself and her wife, Portia de Rossi.
As a comedian, Ellen says she’s always understood the importance of timing … and the timing is right for her to end what she calls an “amazing chapter” in her life…
While Ellen’s thanking everyone who made the show what it’s become, she says “we’re gonna continue that relationship when this show ends” and promises the final season will be fantastic, with lots of celebrations and surprises.
Here’s Ellen’s monologue:
After taping this episode (which features guests Oprah and Pink), Ellen immediately sat down with Savannah for a Today interview. Ellen reiterated that she isn’t quitting her show because of all the bad press she got:
“If it was why I was quitting, I would have not come back this year. I really did think about not coming back because…it was devastating. I am a kind person. I am a person who likes to make people happy. I just kept saying to Portia, “If I was a fan of somebody and even if I loved them, I would think there must be some truth to it, because it’s not stopping.” Right on the heels of that, I read in the press that there’s a toxic work environment, which I had no idea, never saw anything that would even point to that.”
Ellen went on to play dumb about all the stories from current and former employees who say that her whole “Be Kind” message is bullshit and accused producers (three of which who have been fired) of harassment and abuse. She claims that nobody ever complained to her and she was in the dark about all the toxic workplace allegations:
“I really didn’t understand it. I still don’t understand it. It was too orchestrated. It was too coordinated. People get picked on, but for four months straight for me. And then for me to read in the press about a toxic work environment, when all I’ve ever heard from every guest that comes on the show is what a happy atmosphere this is and what a happy place this is.
“I don’t know how I could have known when there’s 255 employees here and there are a lot of different buildings, unless I literally stay here until the last person goes home at night, It is my name on the show, so clearly it affects me and I have to be the one to stand up and say, “This can’t be tolerated.” But I do wish somebody would have come to me and said, “Hey, something’s going on that you should know about.””
And Ellen thinks that this “attack” against her feels misogynistic:
“How can I be an example of strength and perseverance and power if I give up and run away? And so, it really is one of the reasons I came back. I worked really hard on myself. And also, I have to say if nobody else is saying it, it was really interesting because I’m a woman, and it did feel very misogynistic.”
Here’s a full 27-minute extended cut of the interview which aired this morning:
It’s cute that Ellen is trying to rehab her image before she exits her show. Love that she’s just blaming society for not liking her, very Gwyneth Paltrow thinking us judging her means we’re pretentious. But Ellen has her work cut out for her, especially with Anne Heche seemingly intent on keeping her down!
Pic: NBC
