Fans of the long-running talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show were shocked by the announcement that the show would be ending in 2022. The cancellation of the show comes after a year of controversy surrounding Ellen and her executive staff members, with one former employee calling the workplace "toxic."
Now, the 63-year-old is insisting workplace allegations were not the reason for her show ending.
"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."
"I was going to stop after season 16. That was going to be my last season and they wanted to sign for four more years and I said I’d sign for maybe for one. They were saying there was no way to sign for one."
"That’s been the plan all along. And everybody kept saying, even when I signed, “You know, that’s going to be 19, don’t you want to just go to 20? It’s a good number.” So is 19."
It all started with a thread on Twitter in March of 2020 with people telling their most outrageous stories about the talk show host.
The alleged stories included people who worked for Ellen, and people who had interacted with her throughout the years.
"My friend wrote for the Ellen Show for two years and told me Ellen didn’t greet her once," alleged one user. "In fact, upon employment, staff were told they weren’t allowed to talk to her."
"Was wrking on a show @ WB that was next to her stage. Was our showrunner's 50th Bday. Caterer grilling steaks outside for special fancy lunch. Ellen sent someone over to demand they stop, as she doesn't eat meat. She's the worst," shared another user.
The article claimed Ellen's staff was subjected to poor communication in regards to their pay, hours, and their mental and physical health.
When asked by Savannah Guthrie if she was leaving the show due to the toxic workplace allegations, Ellen replied: "If it was why I was quitting, I would have not come back this year."
She continued: "It started with attacks on me and attacking everything that I stand for and believe in and built my career around ... I am a kind person. I am a person who likes to make people happy."
"I don't know how I could have known when there's 225 employees here and there are a lot of different buildings," she explained. "Unless I actually stayed here until that last person goes home at night.
What do you make of Ellen's comments? Will you miss the show? Let us know in the comments below!
h/t: TODAY
