Ellen DeGeneres is Retiring From Hollywood for Good Amidst Backlash

Ellen DeGeneres says she is disappearing from the public eye after playing her final shows for a Netflix special.

Ellen DeGeneres said during a recent stop on her “Ellen’s Last Stand…Up” tour that she is done with fame once she plays her final shows, which will be filmed for a new Netflix special (via People and SFGate). During the audience Q&A part of the show at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa, one fan asked if DeGeneres would return to movies after the tour ended or perhaps try her hand at Broadway.

– Ellen – Variety.com (https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/ellen-degeneres-quitting-hollywood-after-comedy-tour-1236065855/)

Ellen DeGeneres, once a beloved figure in the entertainment industry, has faced several scandals and conspiracies that have tarnished her public image. Here’s a recap of the major controversies:

Major Scandals:

  1. Workplace Toxicity Allegations (2020):
    • Multiple former employees accused “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” of fostering a toxic work environment. Allegations included harassment, racism, and intimidation by senior producers.
    • WarnerMedia launched an internal investigation, leading to the departure of several top producers.
  2. ‘Be Kind’ Hypocrisy:
    • Ellen’s public persona of promoting kindness was called into question by former employees and celebrities who accused her of being mean-spirited and rude off-camera.
  3. NikkieTutorials Incident:
    • YouTube star Nikkie de Jager, known as NikkieTutorials, described her experience on Ellen’s show as less than pleasant, alleging poor treatment compared to other guests.
  4. Staff Treatment During COVID-19:
    • Reports emerged that Ellen’s crew was poorly treated during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, with lack of communication about pay and working hours.
  5. Dakota Johnson Interview:
    • The interview with actress Dakota Johnson went viral when Johnson subtly corrected Ellen about not being invited to her birthday party, contradicting Ellen’s claims and hinting at the host’s disingenuous nature.

Conspiracies:

  1. Ellen’s Connection to Jeffrey Epstein:
    • Conspiracy theories have linked Ellen to Jeffrey Epstein’s infamous network via secondary connections.
  2. Adrenochrome Harvesting:
    • Some conspiracy theorists have claimed that Ellen is involved in adrenochrome harvesting, a theory that has not yet been proven.
  3. House Arrest Rumors:
    • During the pandemic, rumors surfaced that Ellen was under house arrest for alleged involvement in various crimes, again with only speculation.

Rules for Co-Workers:

During the height of her scandal, reports surfaced about the strict and unusual rules Ellen allegedly imposed on her staff:

  1. No Eye Contact:
    • Staff were reportedly instructed not to make eye contact with Ellen.
  2. No Speaking to Ellen:
    • Employees were told not to speak to Ellen unless she spoke to them first.
  3. Gum Chewing Requirement:
    • Employees were required to chew gum before speaking to Ellen to ensure fresh breath.
  4. Specific Room Temperatures:
    • Ellen reportedly demanded that her office and dressing rooms be maintained at a specific temperature.
  5. Food and Drink Restrictions:
    • Some reports mentioned specific restrictions on what food and drink could be brought to or consumed around Ellen.
  6. Daily Hygiene Inspections:
    • There were allegations that staff had to follow strict personal hygiene guidelines, sometimes undergoing daily inspections.

These allegations contributed to the public outcry and eventual cancellation of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”

Sources:

  1. Variety on Workplace Toxicity
  2. BBC on NikkieTutorials Interview
  3. The Guardian on COVID-19 Staff Treatment
  4. Insider on Dakota Johnson Interview