8 celebs who spoke about Ellen DeGeneres' toxic behavior as former TV host reflects on her show's end
8 celebrities who raised their voice against toxic workplaces and Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen DeGeneres controversially ended the famous talk show 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' following allegations that her daytime program was a toxic workplace. As per The Guardian, Ellen made jokes about being "kicked out of show business" for being "mean" during the opening night performance of her new 'Ellen's Last Stand... Up Tour' at the Largo in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 25. In May 2022, 'The Ellen Degeneres Show' came to an end after reports of a toxic work environment had dogged the show for two years. Celebrities then began to share their anecdotes about the comedian. Here are comments from eight famous individuals regarding DeGeneres.
1. Mariah Carey
'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' host encouraged the 'We Belong Together' singer to reveal her pregnancy when she made an appearance on the show in 2008. Carey exclaimed, "I can't believe you did this to me, Ellen." Not too long after the interview, Carey miscarried. The video clip made a reappearance on the internet, 18 years after the DeGeneres controversy. Carey stated in an August 2020 interview with Vulture that the incident left her feeling "extremely uncomfortable."
2. Brad Garrett
The 'Everybody Loves Raymond' actor Brad Garrett called out the comedian on X (formerly Twitter) on July 31, 2020. 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' frequenter Garrett reposted a story from Variety regarding the comedian's letter of apology to employees who felt mistreated. "Sorry but it comes from the top @TheEllenShow Know more than one who were treated horribly by her," Garrett tweeted at the time.
3. Andy Richter
'A Black Lady Sketch Show' actress Ashley Nicole Black tweeted on August 5, 2020, about the toxic work cultures that are "widely accepted" in the television industry. Andy Richter, an actor who frequently guest stars on TBS's 'Conan', concurred with Black and stressed the irony of DeGeneres' 'Be Kind' credo. Richter tweeted at the time, "I agree, although there’s toxicity tolerated by higher-ups in every industry, but few of those workplaces are controlled by a manager who’s entire brand is being 'nice.'"
4. Phoebe Bridgers
The 'Garden Song' singer responded to the criticism directed at DeGeneres with a pun of her own. Bridgers described the host as "ellen degenerate" on Twitter, but she didn't go into detail about her own interactions with her.
5. Ryan Phillippe
While out on a jog in October 2020, the 'Cruel Intentions' actor appeared to be making fun of the talk show host. In allusion to the show's 'Be Kind' tagline, Phillippe scribbled, "And remember to be kind... wait," while posing in front of a poster featuring DeGeneres. The selfie was posted on his Instagram Story by Phillippe. The actor hasn't been on 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' since 2011, per Us Weekly.
6. NikkieTutorials
YouTuber Nikkie Tutorials, real-name Nikkie de Jager, was invited to appear on 'Ellen' in 2020. Following a blackmail threat, the vlogger came out as transgender, and her tale went viral. She described it as a "huge honor" on the Dutch TV program De Wereld Draait Door, but she also mentioned that her experience on the show was not the best. She said that DeGeneres had behaved "cold and distant" toward her.
7. Tony Okungbowa
Tony Okungbowa was DeGeneres' on-air DJ from 2003 to 2006 and again from 2007 to 2013. He said on Instagram that the show had been toxic, but he didn't elaborate on what he'd encountered. Tony wrote at the time, "I was on air talent from 2003-2006 and from 2007 -2013. While I am grateful for the opportunity it afforded me, I did experience and feel the toxicity of the environment and I stand with my former colleagues in their quest to create a healthier and more inclusive workplace as the show moves forward."
8. Emily Ratajkowski
Emily Ratajkowski defended Taylor Swift after seeing a previously unreleased video of the singer on 'Ellen'. An old video of Taylor Swift appearing on 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' showed Swift clearly distraught and on the verge of tears after DeGeneres forced her to perform a "game" where she had to name every man she has dated. Model Ratajkowski said, "This is so f**ked up. She's literally begging her to stop." Ratajkowski told Elle in 2023, "Watching that [interview], I was so struck by how clear she's being about what is making her uncomfortable."
