Ellen DeGeneres shared the date she left show business for good.
DeGeneres, 66, famously hosted the popular daytime TV show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which combined comedy, celebrities, and human interest stories.
The talk show came to an end in 2022 after 19 seasons, two years after allegations were made of a toxic work culture, discrimination, and s**ual misconduct harassment.
Although the reports did not allege toxic behavior by DeGeneres herself, she has since found herself ‘canceled’ and largely kept out of the spotlight.
But she’s recently been back on the comedy scene with Ellen’s Last Stand… Up Tour – if the name doesn’t give it away, the presenter has also confirmed that her upcoming Netflix special will be her last piece of TV or film work ever.
Solidifying her decision, DeGeneres shared with fans her career’s official end date.
Ellen DeGeneres has revealed exactly when her career in show business will end. Credit: Alamy
In 2020, two BuzzFeed exposés revealed a shocking investigation into The Ellen Show, alleging a toxic work culture and s**ual misconduct and harassment.
The publication interviewed current employees and former employees.
One former employee alleged to BuzzFeed: “That ‘be kind’ bulls**t only happens when the cameras are on. It’s all for show.
“I know they give money to people and help them out, but it’s for show.
Another claimed: “I think the executive producers surround her [DeGeneres] and tell her, ‘Things are going great, everybody’s happy,’ and she just believes that, but it’s her responsibility to go beyond that.”
The investigation did not report toxic behaviors from the comedian – whose brand is all about kindness – herself, however, around the same time an X (formerly Twitter) thread begun by comedian Kevin T. Porter went viral.
He tweeted: “Right now we all need a little kindness. You know, like Ellen Degeneres always talks about!
“She’s also notoriously one of the meanest people alive.”
A year after the thread circulated, Porter told Metro that although X is ‘all unverifiable to a degree,’ the ‘consistency’ of claims made led people to take it seriously.
Following the exposés and allegations, Variety reported that three senior producers of the program were ousted from Warner Bros. distributed syndicated strip.
On the show, DeGeneres told viewers (per The Guardian): “I learned that things happened here that should never have happened.
“I know that I’m in a position of privilege and power, and I realize that with that comes responsibility, and I take responsibility for what happens at my show.”
When The Ellen Show finally ended, DeGeneres told The Hollywood Reporter that as a ‘creative person,’ she needed to be ‘challenged’ with something new.
In her stand-up return, DeGeneres reportedly joked about all the controversy.
“For those of you keeping score, this is the second time I’ve been kicked out of show business…Eventually, they’re going to kick me out for a third time because I’m mean, old, and gay,” she said.
The 66-year-old also shared that she uses humor to cope with what happened: “Honestly, I’m making jokes about what happened to me but it was devastating, really.
“I just hated the way the show ended. I love that show so much and I just hated that the last time people would see me is that way.”
In a Q&A after one of the stand-ups, a fan asked DeGeneres whether she had any up-and-coming TV or film projects, to which she responded: “Um, no. This is the last time you’re going to see me, after my Netflix special, I’m done.”
In an Instagram post, featuring the comedian and her wife Portia de Rossi, DeGeneres elaborated on her career’s end date.
She penned: “I will be celebrating my 16th wedding anniversary on the 16th of August in Minneapolis filming my final Netflix special. What a day!!!
“I’m so lucky to be loved by the most amazing person I’ve ever met. I love you, Portia. You’re my everything.”
