Ellen DeGeneres is unrecognizable without blonde hair as she returns to California 2 months after UK move

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Ellen DeGeneres made a surprising return to California, looking unrecognizable as she debuted a new hairstyle, two months after leaving the US following Donald Trump’s victory. 

Ahead of the 2024 Presidential election, many celebrities vowed to leave the country if Trump won, but it was DeGeneres who followed through with her wife Portia de Rossi, relocating to England. 

Now, her unexpected return to the US has sparked a wave of speculation online, with her drastically changed appearance only fueling the intrigue surrounding her comeback. 

Ellen DeGeneres spotted in California months after leaving US

According to reports from E! News, Ellen DeGeneres was spotted in Montecito, California, on January 14, stepping out looking completely unrecognizable. Known for her signature blonde pixie cut, she was seen sporting new gray short hair. 

Keeping it casual, she wore a dark pullover, a gray sweatshirt over a white undershirt, blue jeans, white sneakers, and aviator sunglasses. The location was significant, as she and her wife, Portia de Rossi, sold several properties in the area last year.

Her transformed look even led some people to mistake her for Bill Gates. Notably, there is no information available regarding whether this is a vacation or just a one-day trip during her return to the US.

It’s worth noting that DeGeneres had made it clear that she’s stepping away from the entertainment industry. In her latest Netflix special 'For Your Approval', she joked about her past bullying accusations, saying, "I got kicked out of show business. You can't be mean and be in show business. No, they'll kick you out. No mean people in show business." 

She later told a crowd during a stand-up performance, "This is the last time you’re going to see me. After my Netflix special, I’m done."

Ellen DeGeneres had previously revealed why she hasn’t always stuck to her blonde look

In a 2019 episode of 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show', she explained, "When you have short hair, you have to color it often, 'cause my hair grows really fast. I'm constantly coloring it, so it always looks different when you watch the show. Some days it's a different tone." 

She also recalled a memorable hair mishap, saying, "My hair was falling out like literally, I would touch my head and hair was falling out. I think my hair was so embarrassed, it didn't want anything to do with my head and said, 'I'm getting out of here'."

Ellen DeGeneres' fans question her changed appearance

When a picture of Ellen DeGeneres in LA circulated online, people quickly reacted to her changed appearance and speculated about her reasons for returning to the US. One user mistakenly identified her as Bill Gates, saying, "I thought that was Bill Gates."

One person questioned, "Why is Ellen DeGeneres sneaking around California incognito? After announcing her move to England following Trump's win, she's now been spotted back in Montecito, looking almost unrecognizable. Is she homesick, or is there more to this story?"

Another joked, "She’s back because she heard the evidence against her burned down in the LA fires…"

One person remarked, "I guess England was not the answer to her misery."

A meme mocking her appearance was shared, with the caption, "You know it's going to be a bad day. When you wake up looking like your driver's license photo." followed by, "Poor little thing."

Another user humorously commented, "I'm sure she is trying hard to not be recognized. After all, her UK home flooded so she came back. 😂"

One person, shocked by her unrecognizable look, asked, "Proof this is her?" while another confused user stated, "This isn’t Ellen." Someone else simply shared, "Because it's not her."

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