Ellen DeGeneres is back and, yes, she’s talking about it. ‘Starting a new chapter’: Ellen DeGeneres addresses toxic workplace allegations Click to expand UP NEXT The longtime daytime talk show host returns to “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” Monday –addressing the allegations of a toxic workplace environment that exploded over the […]
Ellen DeGeneres is back and, yes, she’s talking about it.
‘Starting a new chapter’: Ellen DeGeneres addresses toxic workplace allegations
UP NEXT
The longtime daytime talk show host returns to “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” Monday –addressing the allegations of a toxic workplace environment that exploded over the summer. Back in the studio and speaking to a virtual audience, DeGeneres, 62, thanked those watching because “you love me” and welcomed others who might be watching because “you don’t love me.”
“How was everybody’s summer? Good? Mine was great. Super terrific,” she joked in a clip released Monday morning (viewers should check local listings for show air times in their area).
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“I learned that things happened here that never should have happened. I take that very seriously, and I want to say I am so sorry to the people who were affected. 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.”
The host of the popular, long-running “Ellen DeGeneres Show,” which has aired in syndication since 2003, apologized July 30 in a letter to staffers after an internal review of worker complaints about staff facing racism, fear and intimidation was conducted by parent company WarnerMedia. DeGeneres and the studio are “committed to ensuring a workplace based on respect and inclusion,” the statement provided at the time by Warner Bros. to USA TODAY read. Last month, three executive producers were ousted.
More: ‘Ellen DeGeneres Show’ producers respond to claims of toxic workplace environment
Speaking in Monday’s episode, DeGeneres said she and her colleagues had “a lot” of conversations over the past few weeks (including “numerous” ones with the show’s former DJ, Stephen “tWtich” Boss, who is now the show’s co-executive producer) and made “the necessary changes.”
“Today, we are starting a new chapter,” DeGeneres said.
Some of the allegations suggested DeGeneres’ off-screen behavior was responsible for the toxic environment and that she wasn’t the kind person she appeared to be on television.
“Being known as the ‘be-kind lady’ is a tricky position to be in,” she said. “The truth is I am that person you see on TV. I am also a lot of other things. Sometimes I get sad, I get mad, I get anxious, I get frustrated, I get impatient. And I am working on all of that, and I’m especially working on the impatience thing. And it’s not going well, because it’s not happening fast enough.”
Touching on her background as an actress, DeGeneres said she didn’t think she was so talented of a performer that she could “come out here every day for 17 years and fool you.” She said she joined the industry to make people “laugh and feel good” and apologized if that wasn’t the case.
“My intention is to always be the best person I can be, and if I’ve ever let someone down, if I’ve ever hurt their feelings, I am so sorry for that. If that’s ever the case, I have let myself down and I’ve hurt myself, as well.”
Where do things go from here? DeGeneres said she’s committed to making this season the best one yet and wants to make sure that all 270 people who work for the show know she is “so grateful” for them.
“All I want is for every single one of them to be happy and to be proud to work here. This has been a horrible summer for people all around the world,” she said, citing the coronavirus pandemic, wildfires and racial injustice.
“My hope is that we can still be a place of happiness and joy. I still want to be the one hour a day that people can go to escape and laugh.”
More: ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ ousts three top producers amid toxic workplace accusations
And: Have toxic workplace claims and quarantine struggles caused Ellen fans to flee?
The first of DeGeneres’ season 18 guests, comedian/actress Tiffany Haddish voiced her support for the talk show host at the start of their sit-down.
“You the best,” Haddish complimented. “You know I love you, and I support you 110%.”
“Thank you. I love you,” DeGeneres responded.
“I don’t like how people was accusing you of all these things, whatever,” said Haddish, “and you can’t always know what’s going on at the workplace and whatnot.”
The “Girls Trip” star then made a lighthearted suggestion in reference to DeGeneres referring to herself as the “be-kind lady.”
“What you need to do is what I do,” Haddish advised. “Cause people say I’m kind too, but I’m kind of crazy. So you need to be kind of crazy!”
Contributing: Erin Jensen
Ellen DeGeneres we wish you a Happy Birthday and many more years of making us laugh! DeGeneres arrives at the premiere of “Finding Dory” on June 8, 2016, in Los Angeles. The comedienne/talks show host was born Jan. 26, 1958 in Metairie, La.
Ellen DeGeneres, left, and P!nk share a laugh backstage at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forumin Inglewood, Calif.
DeGeneres appears during a taping of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” in Burbank, Calif. on Feb. 11, 2016.
Comedian Ellen DeGeneres seen onstage during “A Conversation With Ellen DeGeneres” at Rogers Arena on Oct. 19, 2018 in Vancouver, Canada.
Ellen was the voice of Dory the forgetful fish in the animated feature “Finding Dory.” Here Albert Brooks, from left, Ellen DeGeneres, Hayden Rolence, writer/director Andrew Stanton, producer Lindsey Collins and co-director Angus MacLane arrive at the premiere of “Finding Dory” at the El Capitan Theatre on June 8, 2016, in Los Angeles.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks with Ellen Degeneres during a commercial break at a taping of “The Ellen Show” in Burbank, Oct. 13, 2016.
From one comedic actor to another… Ellen DeGeneres, left, presents Betty White with the award for favorite TV icon at the People’s Choice Awards on Jan. 7, 2015, in Los Angeles.
Ellen DeGeneres, left, and wife Portia de Rossi arrive at the People’s Choice Awards on Jan. 7, 2015 in Los Angeles.
DeGeneres strikes a pose with her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles.
Ellen DeGeneres, winner of the awards for favorite animated movie voice for “Finding Dory,” favorite daytime TV host and favorite comedic collaboration for “Ellen DeGeneres and Britney Spears’ Mall Mischief,” poses in the press room at the People’s Choice Awards, Jan. 18, 2017, in Los Angeles. Surrounding DeGeneres’ are her previous People’s Choice awards, making her the most decorated People’s Choice Award winner in the show’s history.
DeGeneres walks backstage after winning her first People’s Choice award for Actress in a New TV Series at the 21st annual People’s Choice Awards on March 5, 1995.
A tennis enthusiast sure, but still ever a comedienne, Ellen dines on sandwiches in the judges chair as she takes part in “Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day” at the USTA National Tennis Center.
Fans of the Ellen show are familiar with her desire to give back and support regular people. Here she helps Sharon “Shey” Karriem in New Orleans, May 12, 2006, on the opening of the Quiznos franchise that she won on The Ellen DeGeneres Show after losing her home and deli in the Lower Ninth Ward after Hurricane Katrina.
Ellen DeGeneres has hosted the Academy Awards show twice.
DeGeneres brings the Grammy Awards hosting gig to a close in pjs at the 39th annual awards show. It’s a long show for sure.
She’s a winner! DeGeneres reacts as she is introduced, before receiving the 15th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center in Washington.
DeGeneres takes in the scene at the Teen Choice Awards in Universal City, Calif.
Young and old are fans of Ellen. The comedienne shoots a video as she accepts the choice twit award at the 2009 Teen Choice Awards.
Ellen DeGeneres has some fun as she holds the awards for outstanding talk show host and outstanding talk show, for her work on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” as she poses backstage with the show’s writers and producers at the 33rd Daytime Emmy Awards.
Ellen DeGeneres, left, and her wife Portia de Rossi arrive at the 26th Annual GLAAD Media Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on March 21, 2015, in Beverly Hills.
Ellen DeGeneres, left, looks uncomfortable when Laura Dern’s character perceives her as gay in the “The Puppy Episode” of ‘Ellen.’ Airdate: April 30, 1997.
A large crowd packs the Love Lounge, April 30, 1997, in West Hollywood, Calif. to watch the TV sitcom “Ellen,” where the title character, played by Ellen DeGeneres, comes out and says she is gay. There was much cheering when the actual words “I am gay,” were said.
Ellen DeGeneres kisses her Emmy backstage at the 49th Primetime Emmy Awards in Pasadena, Calif. DeGeneres won the Emmy for outstanding writing in a comedy series for “Ellen.” Ellen DeGeneres made history as the first prime-time lead on network TV to come out of the closet. The episode was watched by a staggering 44 million viewers. It won an Emmy for writing, a Peabody as a landmark in broadcasting and numerous other accolades.
Taylor Swift, left, Ellen DeGeneres, and Queen Latifah and Dania Ramirez arrive at COVERGIRL 50th anniversary Celebration in 2011.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ‘Starting a new chapter’: Ellen DeGeneres addresses toxic workplace allegations in first episode back
Purpose COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. It spreads mainly between people who are in close contact with one another (operational definition of less than 6 ft for 15 min or more)1 through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. Symptoms […]
