Ellen DeGeneres is officially calling it quits. The comedian and former host of The Ellen DeGeneres Show is currently on a 27-stop farewell tour. However, the tour marks the end of her illustrious public career, with her final Netflix Special set to cap it all off.
Ellen’s Last Stand
At the Santa Rosa leg of her tour on July 3, Ellen told her audience, “This is the last time you’re going to see me. After my Netflix special, I’m done.” Despite fans’ hopes, she made it clear she won’t be returning for any projects – including voicing Dory in any new Finding Nemo sequels. “No, I’m going bye-bye, remember?”
Related | Ellen DeGeneres Addresses Getting “Kicked Out of Show Business”
Reflecting on Controversy
Ellen’s decision to step away comes nearly four years after WarnerMedia launched an investigation into allegations of a toxic work environment on her talk show. A 2020 BuzzFeed exposé revealed claims from one current and ten former staffers who described a culture of “racism, fear, and intimidation.” Although Ellen wasn’t directly accused, the revelations were starkly at odds with the show’s feel-good image.
Following the investigation, three executive producers left the show in August 2020. Ellen addressed the controversy during her recent set in Santa Rosa, saying, “Oh yeah, and I got kicked out of show business for being mean.” She has consistently maintained that she was unaware of the issues until they surfaced in the media. In a 2021 interview with TODAY, she expressed her devastation over the allegations and emphasized her dedication to kindness and making people happy.
During her California set, she characterized herself as “demanding and impatient and tough,” but firmly denied being mean. “I am a strong woman,” she told the audience. “I am many things, but I am not mean.”
Time to Say Goodbye
Ellen’s farewell tour, which concludes in August, includes a highly anticipated Netflix special. She announced this would be her last special and promised to address the controversy head-on. “Here we go! To answer the questions everyone is asking me — Yes, I’m going to talk about it. Yes, this is my last special. Yes, Portia really is that pretty in real life,” she quipped on Instagram.
End of an Era
Ellen DeGeneres’s stand-up tour marks the end of a significant chapter in her career. Her two-special deal with Netflix began with the 2018 special Relatable, and her final special promises to blend humor, reflection, and heartfelt goodbyes.
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