Portia de Rossi wants time apart from Ellen DeGeneres, says source
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: Comedian Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi recently celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary in August 2025.
However, fresh reports suggest their marriage may be facing challenges.
On September 27, 2025, sources told RadarOnline that de Rossi was seeking breathing room from the talk show host, citing feelings of being “suffocated” by DeGeneres’ need to micromanage.
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi marriage timeline
DeGeneres and de Rossi married in 2008 after several years of dating, becoming one of Hollywood’s most high-profile same-sex couples.
Their union has often been described as solid, with both women publicly expressing affection and support for each other.
The pair relocated to the United Kingdom in 2024, following DeGeneres’ exit from 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' in 2022. The move was seen as a fresh start, but sources now suggest the transition has added new stress to their marriage.
Why Portia de Rossi wants time apart
An insider revealed that while Portia “loves Ellen dearly, she feels totally suffocated much of the time, because every aspect of her life is constantly micromanaged.”
According to the source, even simple activities such as going for a jog or a horse ride were “met with a dozen questions.”
The insider added, “Ellen hates going anywhere by herself, so Portia’s always on the hook to be by her side.”
While DeGeneres’ protectiveness was considered “sweet to a certain extent,” the source emphasized that de Rossi began feeling “constantly suppressed.”
Breaking point for Portia de Rossi
De Rossi, 52, reportedly began putting her foot down and insisting on more independence.
The source told RadarOnline, “Portia wants to break out and do her own thing and she’s constantly suppressed.”
The situation reportedly reached a point where de Rossi was “seriously considering some time apart to clear her head and get her life back.”\
The source warned that unless DeGeneres made changes, “it may well just drive Portia out the door permanently.”
Future of Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi
Neither DeGeneres nor de Rossi has publicly addressed the claims. Still, the insider suggested that the request for space was not about a lack of love but about maintaining balance.
“Ellen is extremely protective of Portia, which can be sweet, but Portia felt like she couldn’t go on like this,” the source explained.
Fans of the couple reportedly took to social media, expressing concern over the reports.
Many hoped the longtime pair would navigate this rough patch and preserve their marriage.
At a time when both women were transitioning into a new chapter away from the Hollywood spotlight, their relationship dynamics were under scrutiny.
Whether they chose to take time apart or work through their issues together, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi remained one of entertainment’s most closely watched couples.
