Thursday, February 13, 2025, 7:45PM |  35°
MENU
Advertisement
Ellen DeGeneres poses in the press room at the 77th annual Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 5, 2020, in Beverly Hills, Calif.
1
MORE

Ellen DeGeneres ending her talk show after turbulent year that she says ‘destroyed’ her

Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

Ellen DeGeneres ending her talk show after turbulent year that she says ‘destroyed’ her

This story was updated at 11:51 a.m. on May 12, 2021.

It’s the end of an era: Ellen DeGeneres will end her daytime chat show next year.

“When you’re a creative person, you constantly need to be challenged — and as great as this show is, and as fun as it is, it’s just not a challenge anymore,” the comedian and host told the Hollywood Reporter in a story published Wednesday, confirming news that her staff heard Tuesday.

Advertisement

“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” premiered in 2003 with actor Jennifer Aniston and singer Macy Gray as guests; to date, it has run for more than 4,400 episodes and won dozens of Daytime Emmy Awards.

Ellen DeGeneres in January at Grammy Awards show in Los Angeles. As she opened the 18th season of her talk show Monday, she said,
Emily Yahr
Ellen DeGeneres returns, says it's tricky being known as the 'be kind' lady

Her brand took a serious hit last summer when DeGeneres and her producers faced unrest among staffers who alleged there was a toxic work environment on the “Ellen” set.

DeGeneres, 63, told THR that the drama around the show’s culture “destroyed” her.

“My whole being is about making people happy,” she said. “And with the talk show, all I cared about was spreading kindness and compassion and everything I stand for was being attacked. So, it destroyed me, honestly. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t.”

Advertisement

The host addressed the situation in her season-opening monologue in September, saying, “As you may have heard, this summer, there were allegations of a toxic work environment at our show, and then there was an investigation. I learned that things happened here that never should have happened. I take that very seriously, and I want to say I am so sorry to the people who were affected.”

“I know that I’m in a position of privilege and power, and I realize that with that comes responsibility, and I take responsibility for what happens at my show,” she added.

Allegations had culminated in a July BuzzFeed story alleging instances of intimidation of current and former employees. Some crew members complained that they were abandoned during the COVID-19 production shutdown last spring. A second report detailed instances of sexual misconduct involving the show’s three top producers.

In August, after an internal investigation, executive producers Ed Glavin and Kevin Leman and co-executive producer Jonathan Norman stepped down.

Ellen DeGeneres says she will discuss criticism when her show resumes.
Nardine Saad
'Yes, we're gonna talk about it,' Ellen says as her show resumes

DeGeneres told the Hollywood Reporter she had intended to quit after season 16 but decided to sign a contract for three more years instead.

As for the future, the comic says she’s up for a return to acting, in addition to doing more work to benefit animals and the environment.

“A sitcom seems like a walk in the park compared to this, 180 shows a year. I don’t know if that’s really what I want to do next, but movies for sure,” DeGeneres said. “If there were a great role, I’d be able to do that, which I’m not able to do now.”

Representatives for the show did not respond immediately to the Los Angeles Times’ requests for comment.

First Published: May 12, 2021, 3:03 p.m.

RELATED
SHOW COMMENTS (6)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
A cutout batter sits in the bullpen at Pirate City, the spring training facility of the Pittsburgh Pirates, during a spring training baseball workout in Bradenton, Fla., Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015.
1
sports
Joe Starkey: Bad news Pirates outdid themselves on Day 1
Hockey legend Mario Lemieux hands Canada forward Sidney Crosby a commemorative banner prior to the first period of 4 Nations Face-Off hockey action against Sweden in Montreal, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025.
2
sports
Jason Mackey: Fenway Sports Group's tepid relationship with Mario Lemieux must improve
The administration of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro -- shown last week delivering the annual budget address -- on Thursday filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration over the freeze of federal funding. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
3
news
Shapiro and Pa. agencies sue federal government over Trump administration funding freeze
Salem’s Market beat out three other finalists in 2021 for the right to operate the Hill District store.
4
business
Hill District Salem's Market halting operations one year after opening
Competitors in the Flagship Ice Open wait to get started in the predawn darkness on Feb. 1. The event drew 51 two-person teams.
5
life
Lake Erie ice fishing tournament pulls in over 100 anglers and a 2.17-pound yellow perch
Ellen DeGeneres poses in the press room at the 77th annual Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 5, 2020, in Beverly Hills, Calif.  (Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Advertisement
LATEST ae
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story