Ellen DeGeneres has decided to exit the entertainment industry.
MailOnline examines Ellen DeGeneres' rapid decline in her career as she announces her retirement from showbiz following her upcoming Netflix special.
Ellen DeGeneres, a prominent LGBTQ advocate and one of TV's most beloved personalities, recently announced her retirement from showbiz, effective after her upcoming Netflix special. This statement marks the end of a storied career that has taken a significant hit following various allegations about the work culture on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."
The fall from grace began noticeably in March 2020 when comedian Kevin T. Porter solicited stories about DeGeneres being mean, resulting in a flood of negative responses. This tweet sparked wider scrutiny of DeGeneres, who had maintained a public image as a compassionate and friendly figure.
In July 2020, BuzzFeed News published damning testimonials from staff regarding racism, bullying, and sexual harassment on the sets of her show. These reports led to the eventual dismissal of three senior producers, Ed Glavin, Kevin Leman, and Jonathan Norman.
WarnerMedia followed up with an internal investigation, which resulted in DeGeneres's promises to reform the work environment. However, many viewed these efforts as too little, too late. TV personality Tony Okungbowa echoed sentiments of a negative atmosphere, stating, "I did experience and feel the toxicity of the environment."
The public reception remained skeptical despite reassurances and support from figures like her wife, Portia, and other celebrities. Ellen DeGeneres, often seen as a trailblazer in mainstream media for her early and open representation of the LGBTQ community, found her legacy mired by the mounting allegations of fostering a harsh workplace contrary to her publicly friendly persona.
The outing of the internal issues led to a sharp decline in viewership, with the show losing over a million viewers between 2020 and 2021. Ellen then announced in 2022 that her long-running daytime show would end, wrapping up after 19 seasons.
Throughout the ordeal, DeGeneres faced further challenges. Her comeback tour saw the cancellation of several shows, deepening the career impact. Nikkie de Jager, popularly known as NikkieTutorials, featured on the show and later voiced disappointment, differentiating her experience on the show from her interaction with DeGenerals stating:
Let me say that there's a big difference between the Ellen DeGeneres Show and Ellen DeGeneres herself. I'm highlighting this to show favor to the former.
In her closing statements about retiring from show business, Ellen conveyed a sense of finality, reflecting on her tumultuous final years in the industry. Her parting words during the announcement included a poignant remark about her departure from the public eye after her Netflix special airs.
Looking back at her career, Ellen DeGeneres's journey portrays a complex tapestry of groundbreaking achievements shadowed by controversy. As she steps away from the spotlight, the industry and her fans will reflect on the duality of her public persona versus the behind-the-scenes realities.
The closure of her showbiz career encapsulates a mixture of significant cultural contributions and a notably dramatic downfall, linked closely to how she managed her show's internal culture and the disconnect many felt with the image she portrayed on-screen versus the backstage controversies.
