Ellen DeGeneres 'excluded' from carrying 2028 LA Olympics torch, says source

LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA: Former talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, 66, is facing another setback in her career.

She has been reportedly excluded from participating in the 2028 Olympics torch relay in Los Angeles.

Ellen DeGeneres' 'controversy' deters IOC from engaging with her

The news comes after a series of controversies that have tarnished her once 'Queen of Nice' reputation.

A source indicated that the exclusion is likely due to the repercussions of the toxic workplace scandal that surfaced in the last years of 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' in 2020.

"Ellen’s fall from grace has been swift and unforgiving, leading to her exclusion," a source told In Touch Weekly.

"The decision by the Olympic Committee is said to be part of a broader effort to distance itself from figures embroiled in controversy," the source added.

Has Ellen DeGeneres carried Olympic touch before?

This is not the first time Ellen DeGeneres has been involved in the Olympic torch relay.

Back in 2004, the Louisiana native had the honor of running with the Olympic torch during its one-day tour through Los Angeles.

At that time, the torch was en route to the Summer Games in Athens, Greece, making its way internationally for the first time, stopping in every city that had previously hosted a Summer Olympics.

Ellen was among other prominent stars, including Sylvester Stallone and Tom Cruise, who had the privilege of carrying the torch through the streets of Los Angeles.

This opportunity came at a time when Ellen was on the rise, earning her the nickname 'Queen of Nice' due to her 'be kind' mantra, which was widely promoted after she launched her daytime talk show in 2003.

Ellen DeGeneres' fall from grace

In 2020, reports began to circulate that Ellen DeGeneres was not as kind as her public persona suggested. Several staff members of 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' accused her of fostering a toxic work environment.

Ellen's reputation took a significant hit, and she ended her long-running talk show in May 2022  after nearly 20 years on the air.

After stepping away from the spotlight for several years, Ellen attempted a comeback in the entertainment industry.

In July 2024, she hit the stage for a three-night stand-up show in Santa Rosa as part of her "Ellen’s Last Stand…Up" tour where she revealed she got "kicked out of show business for being mean."

The experience of being canceled has been “painful and sad,” for her which even led her to lose her “sense of humor.”

Ellen DeGeneres' last Netflix special

On August 1, Ellen DeGeneres reflected on being dubbed the "most hated person in America" following the toxic work culture accusations. The allegations came to light in a report published by BuzzFeed News in July 2020.

Following her comedy tour, an insider told In Touch Weekly that her show felt like a "redemption tour and a confessional," noting that while Ellen appeared "bruised from her fall from grace," she was not broken.

Ellen announced in May 2024 that she's releasing a Netflix special later this year.

"To answer the questions everyone is asking me — Yes, I’m going to talk about it. Yes this is my last special. Yes, Portia [de Rossi] really is that pretty in real life," she said, according to People.

During the Q&A portion of Ellen's July 1 stand-up routine on tour, she was asked about whether she would return to fame in the future now that she has had time to reflect on her mistakes. She replied with a hard “no," per SFGate. The comedian added, “This is the last time you’re going to see me. After my Netflix special, I’m done."