Ellen DeGeneres has spoken about the backlash she faced a few years ago (Picture: Brooks Kraft/Getty Images)
Ellen DeGeneres has joked she might be blacklisted from Hollywood for a third time for being ‘mean, old and gay’.
In 2022 her self-titled talk show came to an end after 19 years following accusations were made about the backstage atmosphere on set, with former staff making claims of a ‘toxic’ work environment that allegedly also saw them face intimidation and racism.
Since stepping down, the 65-year-old has rarely been seen on TV.
However she’s now returned to stage and spoken about the impact of the criticisms that came her way.
Performing a stand-up show in Los Angeles this week, Ellen addressed leaving her famed talk show and becoming the ‘most hated person in America’.
‘What else can I tell you? Oh yeah, I got kicked out of show business. There’s no mean people in show business,’ she said, as reported by TMZ.
The talk show was accused of creating a ‘toxic’ work environment for staff (Picture: Warner Bros.)
She continued: ‘The hate went on for a long time and I would try to avoid looking at the news. The “be kind” girl wasn’t kind. That was the headline. I became this one-dimensional character who gave stuff away and danced up steps … Would a mean person dance up steps? Had I ended my show by saying, “Go f*** yourself”, people would’ve been pleasantly surprised.’
She then poked fun at herself, explaining how this was the second time she’d faced backlash.
After referencing how she came under fire after coming out on her 90s’ sitcom Ellen, which ignited controversy and saw a parental advisory message included at the start of each subsequent episode, she said another cancellation might await her.
Guests included Former First Lady Michelle Obama (Picture: AP)
‘She added there would be a third time eventually because she was ‘mean, old and gay’.
Although Ellen did poke fun at herself, she also shared some more heartfelt musings during the set.
‘Honestly, I’m making jokes about what happened to me, but it was devastating, really. I just hated the way the show ended,’ she said.
The show first hit screens in 2003 (Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
‘I love that show so much and I just hated that the last time people would see me is that way.’
She also explained while she struggled in the aftermath, she was grateful to be back on stage for the show, which is set to be filmed and released on Netflix later this year.
In May 2021, DeGeneres announced that her daytime programme would be concluding with its 19th season.
‘When you’re a creative person, you constantly need to be challenged — and as great as this show is, and as fun as it is, it’s just not a challenge anymore,’ she told the Hollywood Reporter.
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