Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi have left the US for rural England, listing their Montecito estate for sale. The move follows DeGeneres' exit from show business amid controversies and was motivated by political changes in the US.
- Ellen DeGeneres moves to England
- Her Montecito estate is listed for sale
- Political motivations are behind the big move
Ellen's new beginnings in England
Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, have taken a significant step by relocating to the Cotswolds in south-central England. The couple has decided to put their Montecito estate on the market, a decision influenced by the political climate in the United States.
The election of Donald Trump served as a primary motivator for the move, according to a close source. This transition marks a new chapter for DeGeneres, who has been candid about her departure from show business following reports of a toxic work environment on her syndicated show 'Ellen' in 2022.
DeGeneres' Montecito mansion, located approximately 90 minutes from Los Angeles, is expected to be listed soon.
The couple acquired the sprawling property in 2019 and made it their primary residence. While it remains uncertain what will happen to DeGeneres' other properties in Southern California, the move to England signifies a fresh start. A representative from Riskin Partners, the real estate company handling the sale, has not yet commented on the listing.
Ellen DeGeneres has embraced a new lifestyle since stepping away from the entertainment industry. In her recent Netflix stand-up special, 'Four Your Approval,' she humorously reflected on her post-showbiz life. "I decided to take up gardening," DeGeneres shared.
"I got chickens." She also addressed her exit from the industry, joking about the headline "the ‘be kind’ girl wasn’t kind." DeGeneres contemplated whether a different approach would have changed public perception, quipping, "Had I ended my show by saying, ‘Go f–k yourselves,’ people would have been pleasantly surprised to find out I’m kind.
A forced shift away from show business
Ellen’s career had long been synonymous with positivity, kindness, and humor, which made her a household name and earned her a reputation as a champion of LGBTQ+ rights after coming out in the late 1990s. However, by the time her show ended after 19 seasons, that image had been tarnished.
One of the most damaging controversies began in 2020, when ‘BuzzFeed News’ published an exposé in which former employees of the show accused the production of fostering a toxic work environment. The accusations included claims of verbal abuse, racism, sexual harassment, and a culture of fear that permeated the show.
Several former staff members alleged they were subjected to mistreatment from senior producers, while others spoke out about DeGeneres herself being distant, rude, and disengaged with staff. Ellen, who had built her brand around being "nice" and promoting kindness, faced immediate backlash as these reports contradicted her public persona.
In the wake of the accusations, DeGeneres issued an apology, both publicly and internally, and several top producers were fired. However, the damage to her reputation had already been done. Critics began to question whether the public-facing persona she had crafted over nearly two decades was a façade.
Furthermore, there were questions about her behavior off-camera, which had once seemed charming, but now appeared hypocritical to many.
As DeGeneres transitioned to new projects, including a variety of ventures in the streaming world, her public image remained deeply affected. While she still has a strong fan base, her past controversies, including allegations of mistreatment, remain a prominent part of her narrative.
The point is, Ellen has lost a lot of credibility and many feel that she is perhaps "running away" in time...
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The rise of social media and a cultural shift toward greater accountability for workplace behavior has made it difficult for DeGeneres to fully reclaim the image of the affable and inclusive personality she once embodied. Instead, she faces a more complicated legacy, one in which the spotlight now shines on her complicated, at times contradictory, role in the entertainment industry.
