Ellen DeGeneres Expresses Missing TV Work Amidst Post-Scandal Hiatus
The former talk show host appeared on 'The Graham Norton Show,' discussing her break from the spotlight and admitting she misses television, despite having no current projects lined up.
Ellen DeGeneres appeared on "The Graham Norton Show" recently, a move that surprised and baffled some fans given her reduced public profile since her talk show concluded. The 68-year-old admitted she misses being on television and the camaraderie associated with it, though she stated she has no new work in development.
DeGeneres' self-titled talk show ended in 2022 following an internal investigation into allegations of workplace bullying. She had previously announced the show's conclusion in 2021. Since then, she has been living in The Cotswolds with her wife, Portia de Rossi.
"I've nothing really going on and I really miss being on TV," DeGeneres shared during her appearance. "I miss a lot about it – laughing with the writers and the audience. I think about doing stuff here."
Her remarks prompted questions from viewers about the purpose of her appearance, as she was not promoting any new projects, which is typically the reason guests are invited on the show. Some social media users described her on-screen presence as "awkward."
DeGeneres' public image experienced a significant shift following accusations of a "toxic" workplace, including claims of racism and bullying, from former employees of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." This contrasted sharply with her well-known sign-off, "be kind to one another."
Sources close to DeGeneres have previously described her management style as demanding. The show continued to air after the 2020 allegations surfaced, but declining ratings and the internal investigation ultimately led to its cancellation after 19 seasons.
DeGeneres reflected on the challenging period in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, stating, "I have to just trust that whatever happened during that time, which was obviously very, very difficult, happened for a reason. I think that I learned a lot, and there were some things that came up that I was shocked and surprised by. It was eye-opening, but I just trust that that had to happen."
Following the end of her show, DeGeneres and de Rossi relocated from the United States. They initially purchased a property in The Cotswolds, which reportedly faced issues including flooding and local complaints about building work. The couple later moved to a different home in the same region. Reports have also indicated that they purchased a property in Montecito, California, in November of the previous year.