- Ellen's last laugh is coming
- She has announced her retirement
- THIS is her walk to the Hollywood plank
During a recent stand-up performance, DeGeneres humorously addressed her critics, insisting, "I am not mean," while reflecting on her storied career and the challenges she's faced.
This article dives into the events leading up to her retirement announcement, including the explosive social media backlash and the Buzzfeed investigative report that painted a starkly different picture of the "be kind" advocate.
Ellen's announcement
"After my Netflix special, I’m done," DeGeneres said during a Q&A portion of the show, 'SFGat'e reported. She was referring to a Netflix presentation of her 'Ellen’s Last Stand… Up Tour,' which is due to hit the streamer later this year. DeGeneres, however, is still scheduled to perform in San Francisco on July 20 and to continue her tour in other cities through August.
Still, DeGeneres’ complaints about being "kicked out of show business" bring to mind her stunning fall from grace in the spring and summer of 2020 and how the momentum began with a single tweet.
That tweet, in turn, was followed by a searing investigative report in Buzzfeed News and an internal investigation at her eponymous day-time talk show, all of which undermined her global, multimillion brand built on her persona.
Ellen DeGeneres has officially declared that the curtains are closing on her illustrious career in the limelight. At a show in Santa Rosa, she dropped the bombshell: "This is the last time you’re going to see me... I'm going bye-bye." Fans were left reeling from the news, as DeGeneres cited her departure from showbiz due to being "kicked out for being mean."
The downfall of DeGeneres' "be kind" empire seemingly began with a tweet by Kevin T. Porter, calling out for stories of Ellen being mean. The response was overwhelming, with over 2,000 replies painting a less-than-flattering picture of the star. From allegations of not allowing eye contact to complaints of uncredited work, the internet was abuzz with tales of DeGeneres' off-camera demeanor.
Backlash and Buzzfeed Exposé
The backlash gained momentum when DeGeneres compared her lockdown experience in her multimillion-dollar estate to being in jail, sparking outrage for her tone-deaf remarks. Following this, a Buzzfeed News investigation revealed a toxic workplace culture on her show, leading to an internal investigation and DeGeneres' public apology. However, the damage to her reputation was done.
"Working for her, I was instructed that I can’t look her in the eye and never ever say hi to her first," one person tweeted, saying she also was told that the star "definitely won’t be saying hi to you in the first place."
"I can’t vouch for anything being ‘real’ if it didn’t happen to me, but this is as close as I can get," another person wrote. "My friend who worked at Real Food Daily says Ellen came in and dined and when she saw her server had a chipped nail, Ellen called management and tried to get her fired."
Others spoke of knowing of fans who had unpleasant experiences being in the show’s audience or who had things they made featured on the show without being given credit
Despite the controversies, DeGeneres remains unapologetic about her character. "I am many things, but I am not mean," she declared to her audience in Santa Rosa. Reflecting on her previous exit from showbiz in 1998 after coming out as gay, she joked about being "old, gay, and mean" but stood firm in her self-assessment as a demanding yet fair leader.
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Sparking discussion...
As DeGeneres prepares to exit the stage, questions linger about her legacy and the future of her brand. Will she be remembered for her groundbreaking work as a comedian and LGBTQ+ advocate, or will the allegations overshadow her contributions? Only time will tell.
