Summary Ellen DeGeneres is officially stepping away from Hollywood after her upcoming Netflix special. The comedian shared with fans about her life post-talk show during her final tour. Controversy isn't new to DeGeneres, who faced backlash for coming out as gay in her sitcom.
Ellen DeGeneres, whose talk show ended in controversy after a nearly 20-year run, says she's "done" with Hollywood following her upcoming Netflix special. From 2003 to 2022, DeGeneres was the host of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which aired in syndication across the nation and regularly featured the host dancing, interviewing celebrities, giving stuff away, and sometimes bringing her audience to tears, all while portraying DeGeneres as a kind and loving person. While that may be the case, her talk show came under scrutiny in 2020 after allegations from former employees criticized the production for fostering a toxic work environment.
DeGeneres, who got her start doing stand-up comedy, is currently performing what's to be her final tour. Dubbed 'Ellen's Last Stand...Up,' the comedian took the stage on Monday at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts for a set that also featured a Q&A session with the audience (via SFGate). Having not been seen since her talk show came to an end in 2022, she took time to share with the crowd what she's been up to since then.
"Let me catch you up on what's been going on with me since you last saw me. I got chickens. Oh yeah, and I got kicked out of show business for being mean."
Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show Release Date September 8, 2003 Main Genre Reality TV Cast Ellen DeGeneres Seasons 19
"I used to say, 'I don't care what people say about me.' Now I realize I said that during the height of my popularity," DeGeneres also remarked during her set. When asked by a fan whether she'd be making any more appearances on Broadway or in movies, it was then that the 66-year-old star revealed her plans for the future, which don't include the spotlight.
"Um, no. This is the last time you're going to see me. After my Netflix special, I'm done."
This Isn't the First Time Ellen DeGeneres Has Been 'Kicked Out' of Hollywood "Next Time, I'll Be Kicked Out for Being Old" Close
While DeGeneres may have fallen from grace thanks to the accusations levied at her and her talk show, which included reports of harassment, microaggression, racist comments, and unjustified dismissals, this isn't the first time she's been on the receiving end of controversy. Back in 1997, while starring in her own sitcom, Ellen, she came out as gay during 'The Puppy Episode,' which aired during the show's fourth season. To say it was a scandal at the time would be an understatement.
Though DeGeneres had already come out in Time magazine a couple of weeks before the episode aired on television, both the show and its star came under intense fire from all sides, with some calling for its cancelation, and others saying DeGeneres only came out in such a way as to serve her own self-interests. Following its release, Ellen regularly featured episodes dealing with gay issues, with some in the LGBTQ+ community even calling it too much.
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While Ellen, which featured the first gay lead on a network television show in the United States, has been credited with paving the way for such shows as Will & Grace, Ellen DeGeneres' career was in ruins for about three years following her series. While she had a brief run on The Ellen Show, her second attempt at a sitcom which only lasted for 13 episodes before it was canceled, she didn't do much in Hollywood until 2003, when she managed to claw her way back to superstardom not only with the premiere of her talk show, but also with the role of Dory in Finding Nemo.
DeGeneres is able to joke about it all now, of course, as that's what comedians do. After remarking that she was "kicked out of Hollywood for being mean," she says the next time she'll be ushered out will be for being old.
"Next time, I'll be kicked out for being old. Old, gay and mean, the triple crown."
Should fans want to catch Ellen DeGeneres in person before she says farewell to fame, tickets are still available for 'Ellen's Last Stand...Up,' with upcoming dates in Boston, Philadelphia, and Seattle, to name a few. Her final Netflix special is expected to air later on in 2024.
All five seasons of Ellen are available for purchase on Prime Video .
