Ellen DeGeneres has shared her candid reaction to her toxic workplace allegations and the end of The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

The comedian, who has held prominent acting roles in projects including the sitcom The Ellen Show and the Pixar animated hits Finding Nemo and Finding Dory, began hosting the daytime talk show in 2003. The show ended in 2022 after 19 seasons and 3,294 total episodes following allegations of the star creating a toxic workplace environment that came out in a Buzzfeed News report published in July 2020.

Per People, DeGeneres discussed her reaction to the toxic workplace accusations on the popular daytime talk show during a recent comedy set at Largo in Los Angeles. Although she didn’t directly address the content of the allegations, she shared her reaction to the report, saying that she became “the most hated person in America“, which was “devastating.” She also reflected that she was reduced into a “one-dimensional character” based on the public’s perceptions of her onscreen persona, her “be kind” slogan, and her habit of dancing while introducing her show. Read DeGeneres’ full quote below:

[I was] kicked out of show business [for being] “mean.” [I became the] most hated person in America. 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. [People thought of me as a] one-dimensional character who gave stuff away and danced up steps. [I didn’t dance during the scandal.] It’s hard to dance when you’re crying. [I] had a hard time [and] didn’t get out. [I was] in a funk. [My wife] Portia de Rossi… was watching it happen to me… she went through it with me. [Now] I’m making jokes about what happened to me, but it was devastating. It took a long time for me to want to do anything again. [I] hated the way the show ended. [I] loved that show so much. [However, I’m happy to provide] joy [during] a scary time. I think that we need more laughter and less drama.

The Ellen DeGeneres Show Controversy Explained

DeGeneres Has Previously Addressed The Toxic Workplace Allegations

Although DeGeneres doesn’t address them specifically in her most recent comedy set, the toxic workplace allegations made by ten former employees of The Ellen DeGeneres Show in the July 2020 report contain many different claims. They included claims of racist microaggressions, executive harassment of female employees that wasn’t properly addressed, and curating a general environment of bullying and intimidation. It was also alleged that an employee was let go after starting a GoFundMe for his medical bills.

The Finding Nemo star reacted to the allegations by apologizing to her staff in a statement. Telepictures also conducted an investigation into the claims, which was followed by the firing of executives Jonathon Norman, Kevin A. Leman II, and Ed Glavin and a public apology during the season 18 premiere of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. However, during that season, the show reportedly lost one million viewers and 20% in ad revenue. In a May 2021 interview, the host suggested that the scandal was “orchestrated,” saying that “all I’ve ever heard from every guest… is what a happy atmosphere this is.”

The game show Ellen’s Game of Games also lost 32% of its viewers in the wake of the allegations.

What followed was the end of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which lined up with the end of DeGeneres’ contract at the time. Since then, DeGeneres has largely remained out of the spotlight. As she returns to comedy, it is only natural that she should address one of the key reasons that the show is no longer on the air. However, it remains to be seen if she is ever embraced by the public at the level she was during the heyday of the talk show.