In recent weeks, Ellen DeGeneres has compared quarantining in her $24 million mansion to “being in prison” and been freshly accused of callous behavior from a whole slew of former employees. Now her current TV crew is speaking out about their boss’ handling of the covid-19 crisis, alleging her actions do not line up with her personal brand of love and kindness.
Staff claim she left them entirely in the dark for several weeks during the initial response to the virus and contracted non-union workers to construct a temporary set in her house, reports LGBTQ Nation.
Related: People are coming out of the woodwork to accuse Ellen Degeneres of ‘mean’ behavior
DeGeneres has said she wants “to start doing my new show as soon as possible” in service of “my staff and crew.”
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“I love them,” she said. “I miss them, the best ting I can do to support them is to keep the show on the air.”
Her staff paints a starkly different picture.
Related: Ellen quietly scrubs the internet of her tone deaf quarantine joke
They say they were last paid over a month ago and that for several weeks after that, they didn’t know if they’d have a job to even come back to. When they finally got through to Warner Brothers, which produces the show, they were told their pay would be cut. Then they were shocked to discover via social media that a new set had been constructed without their knowledge by a non-union crew.
The crew also says DeGeneres or the show have not thought to check up on their well-being. Some of them have been with the show for nearly 20 years.
Ellen has not publicly responded to any of the press she’s received since the pandemic began. Several people have called on her to retire when her contract ends this summer.
Mwestport
What’s with the constant Ellen dragging? You don’t like her. We get it. Move on.
Cam
So in other words, they SHOULDN’T report on one of the biggest TV stars in the country who plays nice, but then turns out to have lied and left her staff without paychecks or any information on when or if they might get paid again?
Please, this is beyond narcissism.
LumpyPillows
I agree, dumping on Ellen is the new trend. Her joke about being in her mansion was just a joke. Bunch of nobodies with their panties in a bunch thinking they are important on Queerty.
MurrietaAZ
So you’re okay with anyone treating staff like shit, shafting their pay and being an outright liar and hypocrite? Let me guess – you support Trump don’t you?
Cam
@LumpyPillows
Except that isn’t what this post was about, it was about Ellen not paying her staff, not letting them know when or if they might get paid, and after they finally struggle to find out they are told their pay will be cut 60%. All the while Ellen has illegally hired a different staff to do work, violating her contract.
stevenjf
Everyone knows she’s rapacious and evil.. we are partially to blame for elevating celebrities even though despite their limitless millions they do not care about people actually.. her generosity on her show is completely orchestrated by her producers. She has nothing to do with it.. its not her money and she could give a sh*#.
jsmu
No, clueless. Nobody likes the b*tch. As is becoming increasingly evident. Her girl toy PORSCHE de Rossi stays with her for bribes. Move on, little moron!
jsmu
@Lumpy Pillows Sweetiepie, you’re a dRUMPftroll who can’t even FIND big girl panties much less wear them. There are trillions of artciles clearly documenting Ellen’s b*tchc*ntitude. Learn to read, why don’t you?
auburnalum01
I didn’t realize MurrietaAZ had ALL the scoop and facts About Ellen! *eye roll* Ellen may be horrible and she may not. I think it’s funny everyone is so quick to believe rumors on a third-rate gay gossip site like this, and are jumping all over someone just for being objective. MurrietaAZ is acting exactly like the very person he obviously and has every right to hate (Trump). Oh, the irony.
jsmu
@AuburnAlum And here you are, acting like exactly the sort of third-rate gossipy fa**ot who reads this sort of site and is attempting to put herself so, so far above all the dreadful plebes who simply don’t have her divine ‘objectivity.’ MurrietaAZ commented on known facts, FYI, and the troll it addressed is a known dRUMPfazoid of long standing. Since you obviously don’t get out much, nor know anyone in Hollywood, news flash, hon: Ellen is a complete pariah there, and your pretensions to ‘objectivity’ are not only farcical but ludicrous. Of course, for someone who advertises having attended a third-rate school in Alabammy Go**a*n, stupidity isn’t really surprising…
Floofster
@JSMU Ok wow, so I just saw a few more of your comments… You are the literal troll here. Ouch.
jsmu
@Floofster Your cluelessness clearly extends to thinking that your stupid comment about me holds even a shred of validity or interest. Have a lovely day, dear.
Tempus
Ok, this content is linked to COVID-19/the endless quarantine so for once it makes some sense in terms of timing as when this all initially started did anyone find the timing interesting? I mean the comments about her ahem personality flaws to put it mildly seemed credible yet the choice of tweeting about it during a global lock-down just made it seem like it was in-part due to boredom. I mean that’s what twitter is known for really. It’s not remotely shocking to hear a celebrity’s tv personality is fake not to mention those tweets weren’t seen as a newsflash by anyone so I didn’t really see it going anywhere. Then she made an insensitive and bad joke yet she’s a comedian so to me that was just par for the course. Now though that her current crew has started to speak out against her I’m starting to see the winds change. Looks like it actually seems plausible that she could be removed from the air as it’s definitely bad for ratings to have a crew she claims to love speaking so negatively of her.
jayceecook
While I’m tired of the Ellen bashing too, no I’m not particularly a fan of hers though I do adore Dory, this is something that bothers me. She and her production company could have used her current crew to construct a new set but obviously she didn’t want to pay the higher prices. Screwing over your current or somewhat current crew is unacceptable.
While I also don’t expect her to personally reach out to every employee to see how they are doing, even though technically she has the time, she could have at least sent out an email actually written by her and CCed it to all her staff.
It’s times likes these that people’s true character is revealed and it’s happening with “regular” people and celebrities alike. I didn’t find her joke offensive because of the gay part. It was the timing. Seeing what is happening in my own state with inmates and the men and women who work there is extremely disheartening. Under different circumstances I probably would have laughed but as they say, “read the room.”
jsmu
“Ellen-bashing?” JFC, you’re a moron. Rich *sshole celebrities having their bad behavior publicized goes with the territory, sweetiepie. Grow up!
jayceecook
@jsmu The only @$$hole I see around here is you. Also, stupid AF, lacks reading comprehension skills and the ability to discern between calling out somebody’s “bad behavior” and downright trash talking/borderline bullying. Then you have the gall to tell me to grow up whilst you resort to primary school level name calling. Why don’t you take several seats and try to patiently wait for your next bottle of outrage juice.
jsmu
@jayceecook Sweetiepie. The only *sshole in this particular exchange is your pitifully imbecilic, pathetically impotent self and its attempt at virtue-signalling. Your utter reliance on vulgar social-media cliches (which were old ten years ago, dear) is exceeded only by your amazing self-aggrandizement (look it up, sweetiepie, I know your rudimentary ‘vocabulary’ doesn’t extend to polysyllabic discourse.) Why don’t you leave the room , which your myopia makes it impossible for you to read, and try to adjust your permanently wadded PANTIES?
jayceecook
@jsmu First of all I’m not your “sweetiepie” so refrain from calling me that. Second, it’s “sweetie pie”. Two words, not one you dippy phuck. Third, my “vulgar social-media cliches” are four years old at best. Which is funny because that’s right about when I stopped using SM so sue me. Still, that’s two more than *your* emotional and intellectual age. Fourth, that comment had at least 26 words that were polysyllabic. By the way, polysyllabic language or discourse is usually considered superfluous, palaverous, and generally a sign of somebody’s need to appear more sagacious than they actually are. Fifth, there is nobody, I mean NOBODY (not even poor Dotson) who is more self-aggrandizing on this site than you little boy. Every nasty reply to leave to somebody just broadcasts that fact even more. Sixth, my panties are just fine sweetie pie so no need to be so darn concerned about my undergarments. Seventh, phuck off you delusional, rickety twit.
Oh I almost forgot. In all that maniacal rambling, you did get one thing right. I do suffer from myopia. However only in one eye. The other has hyperopia.
tempus1
@jayceecook First, HONEY, ‘sweetiepie’ is slang. Your amazing ignorance of language, syntax, and sentence construction obviously extends to attempted pedantry about slang and vernacular usage as well. Second, snookums, erudition is termed ‘superfluous,’ ‘palaverous’ (what a ridiculous attempt at a word!), etc. only by those so uneducated their ignorance forces them to try to sneer at actual learning. Third, darling, you obviously can’t count polysyllables OR numbers, because there were nowhere near twenty-six polysyllables by any decent definition (two syllables really doesn’t count, though I realize it’s your normal limit and you were forced to dribble over a thesaurus to come up with anything more) in your drooling attempt at a reply. Fourth, sweet cheeks, you’ve now become the Internet’s resident expert on expired, weary, tired, dead social media cliches and their exact provenance in chronology? You keep track of the exact expiration date of your as*nine cliches? You’re pitiful. Fifth, sugarlump, your emotional, intellectual, and mental age is approximately six months, and I’m being remarkably generous. Sixth, lovey, no one on earth is CONCERNED about your undergarments, any of the noxious things associated with said undergarments, or for that matter if you live or die (though many people would doubtless chuckle and smile at your demise!) I merely used a standard years-old social media cliche so that you could comprehend it; it was a kindness on my part. Seventh, adorable little spectrum creature, eat excrement and perish. I won’t bother with a PS because your attempt at an addendum (look it up, little ****–you don’t know the word ‘addendum’ either, what a surprise) was too risible (Dictionary.com is your friend, sweetiepie! to acknowledge.
ScottOnEarth
@jsmu You are a miserable, ridiculous person. @jayceecook was sharing an opinion (a well-stated one, in fact) and you revert to an irate 9-year-old having a tantrum. You must just be a dreadful person in everyday life.
jsmu
@ScottonEarth The opinion was neither well-stated nor intelligent; in fact, like your comments, it was remarkably stupid. Your ludicrous attempts at online pop-psychology are even less interesting than your failed putdowns. You must be simply unendurable in reality if you’re this obnoxious online 🙂
jayceecook
@tempus1 JFC jsmu. How many alt accounts do you need to spread such tripe? You’d think the local Queerty troll hunters here would call you out.
I’ll never wish death upon anybody. However, I can’t lie and say that I’d shed a tear if/when you ever gain the audacity to say the things you’ve posted here to me and others to somebody face to face and they gut you from navel to sternum. Or that should I pass you by afterwards and upon hearing you beg for help that I wouldn’t defecate in your mouth with a large grin plastered on my face.
PS “Sweetie pie” is a term of endearment. Two words. Sometimes hyphenated, never one word. Even your beloved Dictionary dot com agrees. Stay pressed sweetie pie ;]
Toofie
Quick, Nikkie de Jager did another article trashing Ellen. Hurry and post it so the ridiculous Ellen bashing can continue!
Plutus
The sooner America understands “celebrities” are bottom feeders, the better.
KellyRobinsonJr
If you truly believe that, Maybe you should follow and comment on a celebrity-driven news site?
jsmu
@KellyRobinsonJr If you truly believe that, run along back to Faux Noise and Whitebarf, little imbecile–where you belong.
KellyRobinsonJr
Her decades of service to the Worlds vs her last 60 days… Hmmm, I wonder which one is more important?
jsmu
“Decades of service?” Are you on CRACK? And by the way, what does your imbecilic capitalization/pluralization of ‘Worlds’ EVEN MEAN????? LMAO!
bearfuzz58
I believe all that is being told about Ellen. I lost all interest, and respect for her over a year ago. She is all about using people, and how much more money she can make off of them. To be a Lesbian, she sure hates Gay Males. She doesn’t deserve a show on television. She has forgotten where she started in all this. She has no respect, or love for anyone but herself.
TEEMSTIR
So very much agree
gord.sabean
Never been a fan. She’s easy to see through.
TEEMSTIR
…it’s about Time — I am sick of her fake attitude
Terrycloth
I guess be kind to each other her slogan at the end of every show its just lip service. If it costs her money ..forget it
MurrietaAZ
If Ellen was a Trump socialite, you guys would be okay with bashing her but because she’s a “member” of the LGBTQAI community, we need to give her a pass?
Here’s the thing: people are done with the hypocrisy, the lies and the fake personas that many celebs put out there. This isn’t the first time Ellen has been exposed for being like this; it’s just the first time people are not buying her “sweetness”.
Many celebrities don’t like her and it’s not because she is a lesbian. It’s because she’s so fake and she’s a shit-stirrer that they wouldn’t associate with her outside of the show. Sure – she’s “powerful” and is a visible face of the gay community AND she’s considered a friendly face of the community. BUT she is no different than Trump and other people in the Administration you don’t like.
Now if you are okay with someone like Trump and Ellen – that is your opinion but it is also a reflection of who you are and I pity the people who are your friends and employees.
Cam
Actually this is an LGBT site and it has posted these articles, and most of the commuters are unhappy with her behavior. The people defending her are some of the same accounts that routinely defend Trump on here.
barkomatic
Ellen has done a lot for the gay community and for that I’ll always admire her. However, successful high profile people are often unpleasant in person and sometimes ruthless and self centered. It’s refreshing when that is not the case but alas, it sounds like she fits that mold. The more people who come forward about their treatment the more credible they become.
Hopefully, Ellen will pay attention to what is being said about her and realize its worthwhile to treat the people who work for her decently going forward.
jsmu
Actually, no, she USED the gay community for her own gain. It’s called MONETIZING.
Jim
For anyone paying attention Ellen has never been “kind”
MHaumesser
People should remember that Ellen isn’t the one that pays her staff it’s Warner Bros.! As far as who she gets to work at her home that’s her decision! Just because people work on her show at the Warner Bros. lot doesn’t mean she’s in any way obligated to hire these same people to work in her home!
Cam
It’s adorable that you pretend that Ellen has no say over the show that has her name and she partially owns.
If she told Warner to reach out to her staff for the set they would do whatever she wanted.
Nice try.
Tonyi1234
I think Ellen is human, as human, she is not perfect. Some of what she’s done seems generous and genuine. I don’t agree with her about George W. Bush, but again, it’s her right.
But on this latest situation, and I would like someone to enlighten me, IF THEY KNOW. Is she responsible for the show, financially and otherwise? What is the network’s responsibility? It doesn’t seem plausible that payroll or administration matters fall to Ellen DeGeneres, I would think she is on payroll herself. Of course, I believe she could encourage the network to be more in line with what she believes, but a corporation is not always open to oblige. Just a thought before she’s sent into exile.
Cam
She owns part of the show, and they will do whatever she wants.
Any normal person would say “Hey, where are my staff?” And she refused to answer them when they asked her about their pay.
Nice try on excusing her.
TimberWolf
The more the fame monster takes over talent, the more unbearable they become. Money and Fame spoiled her to the core, one can guess she started out humble in the entertainment world but the fame created another tiring Fame Monster called Ellen, like her sitcom prior to her talk show, gone to her he’s perhaps Retiring in her 24 million dollar home or one of her houses she can easily enjoy her big bank account. Or end up on Real Housewives of Hollywood.
Ellen always appeared phony, over the top riding on the LGBT stream but apparently she is a nasty bitter individual no pleasing downright pissy.
Very sad what fame and money does to an individual
Onecaddy13
It’s just sad that she couldn’t help out her old crew by having them build the set at her home. These people are loyal to her and really needed the work to survive and put food on their table, and for their kids, (if applicable) but she backstabbed then by hiring non union workers. By god, she has tons of money and definitely could afford it. But she let them down and had them apply for UEB’s. I was a faithful watcher up until about over a year ago. (I have family in the industry) and do my research before commenting, I heard and read such stories and even noticed the changes on her show & staff that solidified those stories. It’s time, RETIRE!!! I will never return as a viewer no matter if she starts the apology tour today.
Terrycloth
Her motto at the end of every show is Be kind to each other. Ironic and depressing that if it cost her money. Forget it..
Dr.Knowze
Ellen, like most of us, could probably be nice than she is. Fame does things to many people. I”m just surprised at how many people told the folks at Rainbow Quest! to ‘just reach out to her, she’s love that game,’ but not a single response to it.
eeebee333
This is straight up gossip. I don’t see a single source cited in the article.
ScottOnEarth
If Ellen were as nice as she pretends to be, there would be people flocking to her defense. That’s not happening. Radio silence. I find her annoying and completely insincere, so there’s nothing surprising about this but it’s still unfortunate.
jsmu
What a stunning reinvention of the wheel. Did you think that up all by yourself, Scottypoo?
Dewey
If you’re don’t work, you don’t get paid. Bad mouth your employer, lose your job. Construction at a private residence does not require union employees.
jlogb
Facts or sources… I get the need for those. Drive-by character assassinations are cowardly. However…. as a fan of Ellen this flat sucks. I believe there’s truth to these stories… how much, who knows. Bottom line is she clearly crapped the bed, maybe a few times and apparently on some closest to here. Foolish to think theres not truth to these allegations. My disgust is the hypocrisy. Be a bad person and own it.., enough with hiding you’re narcissistic truth behind endearing jokes and be kind movement. Sounds like Hollywood.
Cam
Except multiple people gave their names.
Here’s a suggestion, if Ellen is so nice, where are all the famous people defending her and saying none of this is True?
You even had Detox from Rupaul telling a story about Ellen on the lot going into an over the top screaming fit because a fan said hi. Nothing for him to gain.
Lastly, if this is all untrue, then it’s easy, Ellen could simply sue and demand a retraction. Why hasn’t that happened?
PretenderNX01
Y’all are still triggered by that prison joke. “A celebrity in a mansion said something absurd that I took too literally.” Quarantine has the whole internet acting like Fox News snowflakes.
Black Pegasus
Yaas!! Drag that enabler of homophobes and bigots… Drag her!
Kim2
I’m really disappointed that she is not paying her staff.She is worth several hundred million dollars,she could have at least paid them a months salary since they probably haven’t received unemployment benefits.BTW most of the money and products she gives away on the show comes from corporations like Shutterfly,Target,General Mills,Ford,…not from her personal fortune.
tjack47
Goddamn that was boring bullshit from some disgruntled employees.
gaypalmsprings
Ellen is an embarrassment to the LGBT community. She’s no longer funny.
justyouandi
What is it with lesbian comedians? Rosie O’Donnell was exposed long ago as entitled, screwy and just plain mean. Now Ellen.
Romke
I actually had a very different experience with Rosie O’Donnell when I bumped into her in Los Angeles. At the time, my mom was dying of breast cancer and Rosie had just written a book about her experience when her mom had breast cancer. She asked if she could call my mom and they talked for over 15 minutes. Afterwards, Rosie sent my mom a gift basket. My mom was thrilled and told all of our family and friends that a celebrity called her and sent her gifts.
boymikefl
You are her peasants & if you think she cares about her haters, pleez. The supporters, nobody’s perfect except of course, you queen.
If she leaves with her billions, Chatty man can replace her. Put in the call Warner Brothers.
JromeGervais09
I would like to know who the ubiquitous “they” or “staff members” are?
MountainCowboyMan
When Ellen got married years ago 2008 now to Portia de Rossi it was always on her show, “I’am Married & Your Not” agenda 24/7. We got just under the wire in California. It was a turn off & did not help anyone feel great in the LGBTQ Community. Her hormonal straight audience of women would clap thinking she was the best thing since Penisbutter. I have always been very thankful to hear anyone has happiness in life & genuine love. It is when someone pours salt on it as Ellen did 24/7 & then turned into a Info Commercial giving things away not from her but from Corporations & using the tragic events in other peoples lives was another turn off. I will never understand her need to see so called Straight Men take their shirts off on air. She has a real need there it appears her wife Portia can not fill it would seem. Ellen was really good when she had a Sitcom on TV. The 1st few years of the Ellen TV Talk Show was good then it went down hill when she continued to share with the audience in house & TV viewing audience, “I Have This & You Don’t” agenda. That is a turn off for anyone in life. Her Game Show she has been doing past few years on TV shows a very Sadistic Pleasure she has with Contestants. This was evident on her TALK Show when she did these games to audience members. Ellen most surely has issues & one huge one is she & Portia buy a home fix it up & then sell it. They surely don’t need the money & this shows they have Sociological issues of being Grounded & Secure in life. To use the Viewing Public for the Treasure Chest of $$$$ needs as they have through the years is a 100% Turn-Off for any agenda. There is a saying “No Good Comes Ill-Gotten Gain”. Like Oprah when she gave everyone a car. No Oprah never gave anyone cars the Car Company was doing a promotion & paid for those cars. Ellen is the same way she appears to give Checks away but not from her ever it is from SnapShot or Wally-World or some huge Corporation it has never come from Ellen’s $$$ Purse. She Uses People terribly & to have a great LGBTQ Talk Show on the Air-Waves TV would be a welcomed relief being absent for so many years on TV. Ellen rarely ever addresses real LGBTQ Issues & when she does she hints about it many weeks after the terrible events have happened. Who she gives high marks for & has had on her show is not who the LGBTQ Community ever does. Tragically she appears to not be happy with herself & seems to want to be Straight & Lesbian at the same time always. I sincerely wish she would not come back in the Fall she & Portia have plenty of $$$$ I am sure to live many life times. To tune into the Ellen Show for many years has & is like tuning into the Day Time Info Commercial Talk Show not needed. “The Worth Of Your Wealth Is The Good You Do On Earth”.
DuMaurier
I don’t watch her show much anymore, but I’ve always thought she was a funny, personable host, which is all I really ask from a talk show. I do enjoy celeb gossip about how horrible stars are in private, but I don’t think I ever thought she was the same off camera as on. And it doesn’t matter much to me; I probably wouldn’t make a decision on whether to watch a TV show or movie based on what the star is “really” like in his or her off-time.
And I already posted this on another Ellen story, but a friend of mine in that horrible Illinois prison system (and very worried about the virus in that revolting environment) thought her jail joke was hilarious when I ran it by him.
Romke
Living in Hollywood, many of my friends work in the entertainment industry and have worked on Ellen’s show. Everyone of their stories were sadly very similar. She was mean, dismissive and didn’t want to be bothered once the cameras stopped rolling. The generosity that she portrays comes mostly from the producers to keep up with her TV image. As a gay man, I root for positive LGBT role models but unfortunately my friends who have worked with her describe her as a miserable person.
Felecia
All I want to know is WHY you guys want to spend time that The Universe won’t give back to you in a ‘Let’s ALSO slam Ellen’ Queerty-fest…she wouldn’t spend the effort to step over y’all if you were laying dead in front of her; she’d simply kick you out of her way. Wasting your lives screeching about her latest offense would actually amuse DeGeneres, because to her none of you are and never will be anything but a bunch of bitter queens with no husbands and nothing but time on your hands to scroll an LGBT website…not being rude, just telling it like it is. Ellen has terrific tunnel-vision when it comes to what’s important to HER, and anyone who might not agree generally finds themselves quickly shuttled out of the picture. Her staff readily knows this; you can’t work for this self-centered dragon-dyke more than one shift and NOT figure it out, lol….the money keeps the trophy-wife happy, and the show keeps the fans happy…which keeps Ellen in fits of shits-&-giggles as she counts the dollars while hating EVERYBODY, lol…she’s not a pleasant boss and will trash-talk YOU waaay better than any squalid comment that’s found on here. Not to mention she won’t give a damn anyway, so maybe it’s prudent to simply IGNORE her and leave the ‘post comment’ thing alone when the article is about her…THAT will hurt more than any snide opinion, believe me. Oh, and if you MUST comment…please remind the un-funny DeGeneres of her recently-exposed DNA relationship to Madonna, discovered on the show ‘Who Do You Think You Are’…not a fan of the Material Girl, she’ll get a red-faced apoplexy when it’s mentioned, and this will put a knot in her jockstrap for weeks, lol…..
Cam
A long, rambling, non-punctuated post that simply says. “Stop talking about her”.
Why would we give bad, abusive behavior a pass. The one thing people like Ellen don’t want, is the light shined on their true selves.