In her latest Netflix special Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval, Ellen DeGeneres opens up about the emotional toll the toxic workplace allegations had on her after they surfaced in 2020.
The claims, made public in a report by BuzzFeed News, cast a shadow over the final years of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which ran for 19 seasons before ending in 2022.
DeGeneres, now 66, shared, “I’m happy not being a boss or a brand or a billboard, just a person,” during her special, which premiered on September 24. Reflecting on her identity beyond the spotlight, she added, “Just a multifaceted person with different feelings and emotions… But I’m tough, and I’m impatient, and I’m demanding. I’m direct. I’m a strong woman.”
The comedian admitted that being perceived as “mean” was particularly difficult for her. “The thought of anyone thinking that I’m mean was devastating to me, and it consumed me for a long time,” she revealed, before expressing how aging has given her new perspective. “After a lifetime of caring, I just can’t anymore. So I don’t.”
DeGeneres also acknowledged the pressures of being in comedy, noting that “if they like you, you’re in, and if they don’t, you’re out.” She emphasized the importance of being remembered fondly, saying, “I choose that.”
Despite the allegations, DeGeneres previously clarified to The Hollywood Reporter that they did not influence her decision to end the show. Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval is now streaming on Netflix.
