Michael Rozman/Warner Bros. After several years on air, Ellen DeGeneres was hit with toxic workplace claims on the set of her eponymous talk show in July 2020 The final episode ofThe Ellen DeGeneres Showaired on May 26, 2022 DeGeneres has slowly returned to comedy, starring in a 2024 Netflix special where she addressed the controversy Until 2020,Ellen DeGenereswas known almost exclusively for her "be kind" mantra. But when a report detailing alleged employee mistreatment on her show broke, that all changed. In the article, published byBuzzfeed News, several employees came forward about their experiences of working on the show. "That 'be kind' bullshit only happens when the cameras are on. It's all for show," one former employee told the publication. "I think the executive producers surround her and tell her, 'Things are going great, everybody's happy,' and she just believes that, but it's her responsibility to go beyond that," claimed another. Following the controversy,The Ellen DeGeneres Showaired for nearly two more years, but was officially ended on May 26, 2022. In her 2024 stand-up special,Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval, the longtime talk show host responded to the rumors for the final time. DeGeneresjoked about being "kicked out of show business"for being "mean," and added that this wasn't her first time being dropped from the industry. In 1998, the comedian's hit showEllenwas cancelled after she came out as gay. From the 2020 controversy to her farewell tour, here's everything to know about whyThe Ellen DeGeneres Showended. Nbc-Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock In July 2020, Buzzfeed News published a report with anonymous accounts from former and current employees ofThe Ellen DeGeneres Show. These employees alleged racism, being overworked and more mistreatment behind the scenes of the widely popular series. The Ellen DeGeneres Show's executive producers, Ed Glavin, Mary Connelly and Andy Lassner, said in a joint statement that "they take the stories of the employees 'very seriously.' " "Over the course of nearly two decades, 3,000 episodes, and employing over 1000 staff members, we have strived to create an open, safe, and inclusive work environment," the producers added. "We are truly heartbroken and sorry to learn that even one person in our production family has had a negative experience. It's not who we are and not who we strive to be, and not the mission Ellen has set for us." Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic In theBuzzfeedarticle and on social media, DeGeneres and the talk show's producers were accused of facilitating a "toxic work environment" on the series. Claims from staffers included being penalized for taking medical leave, repeated racial microaggressions and fear of retribution for raising complaints about working conditions. While no specific allegations were made against DeGeneres in the report, one former employee alleged producers hid the toxic workplace complaints from the host. "I think the executive producers surround her and tell her, 'Things are going great, everybody's happy,' and she just believes that, but it's her responsibility to go beyond that," they said. Following the Buzzfeed report,VarietyandThe Hollywood Reporterannounced thatThe Ellen Degeneres Showwasunder internal reviewby WarnerMedia. Following the internal investigation regarding the alleged toxic workplace claims, the comedian apologized to her staff in a letter. "On day one of our show, I told everyone in our first meeting thatTheEllen DeGeneresShowwould be a place of happiness – no one would ever raise their voice, and everyone would be treated with respect. Obviously, something changed, and I am disappointed to learn that this has not been the case," she wrote in the message, which was obtained by PEOPLE." And for that, I am sorry. Anyone who knows me knows it's the opposite of what I believe and what I hoped for our show." Additionally, three top producers — Ed Glavin, Kevin Leman and Jonathan Norman — parted ways with the show. DeGeneres used her farewell stand-up tour and comedy special,Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval, to address the 2020 scandal. "I used to say, 'I don't care what people say about me,' " she admitted in the stand-up routine. "Now I realize I said that during the height of my popularity." While she claimed to have been "kicked out of show business" for "being mean," in the special she did not speak to the accuracy of the claims made against her, nor did she attempt to prove them false. She did, however, point to the double standards between expectations of men and women in leadership roles. "We have all these unwritten rules based on gender of acceptable behavior, of who we're allowed to be, and how we're allowed to act," she explained in the special. "And if we don't follow those rules, it makes people uncomfortable. And when people get uncomfortable, there are consequences. For those of you keeping score, this is the second time I've been kicked out of show business." "I am a strong woman," she claimed before being met with roaring applause. No,The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which began on Sept. 8, 2003, concluded on May 26, 2022. Following the alleged toxic workplace claims, a variety of celebrities came to DeGeneres' defense online. As detailed byBusiness Insider, celebrities such asKaty Perry,Ashton Kutcher,Kevin Hart,Scooter Braun,Diane Keaton,Jay Leno,Octavia SpencerandSofia Vergarawere among DeGeneres' supporters. On Instagram,Spencer wrote: "All of my interactions with everyone from the show including ELLEN were supportive and fun! In that spirit I am praying all involved get the love and support they need." On X,Perry shared, "I know I can't speak for anyone else's experience besides my own but I want to acknowledge that I have only ever had positive takeaways from my time with Ellen & on the @theellenshow." Likewise,Portia de Rossicame to her wife's defense,writing, "I Stand By Ellen" on Instagram. Ellen DeGeneres/ Instagram Nearly four years after the 2020 report was published, as part of her "Ellen's Last Stand ... Up" tour, DeGeneres performed a three-night show in Santa Rosa, Calif. During the set, the comedy star gave the audience a life update, perSFGate. "Let me catch you up on what's been going on with me since you last saw me," DeGeneres shared with her crowd. "I got chickens. Oh yeah, and I got kicked out of show business for being mean." DeGeneres expressed the same sentiments in her 2024 special,Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval. "I'm making jokes about what happened to me, but it was devastating," she explained. "It took a long time for me to want to do anything again." DeGeneres later moved to Europe with her wife. Read the original article onPeople
