Ellen DeGeneres’ former bodyguard is speaking out about the very negative experience he had working with the beloved daytime talk show host six yeas ago.
Tom Majercak was assigned to protect Ellen at the 2014 Oscars. Speaking to Fox News, he had a lot to say about it, and almost none of it was complimentary.
“Ellen is the one person that I’ve been assigned to—and I’ve been assigned to quite a few celebrities—that has never taken the time to say ‘hi’ to me,” Majercak recalled.
This jives with what beauty vlogger Nikkie de Jager said in March, when she told a Dutch talk show host that Ellen was “distant” and never bothered to say hello to her prior to de Jager appearing on her show back in January.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Related: Nikkie de Jager spills major tea about secretly ‘mean’ Ellen Degeneres
Majercak also said that he thought working with Ellen would be a lot of fun, given the upbeat personality she displays on her show. Instead, he claimed she was so “cold” it was “actually kind of demeaning.”
Ellen’s wife, Portia De Rossi, on the other hand, was lovely.
Majercak said De Rossi was “very pleasant and carried on a conversation.” But when she introduced him to Ellen, he says Ellen “pretty much just gave me a side glance out of her eye and didn’t even say ‘hello,’ or ‘thank you for protecting my mother, my wife and me.'”
Majercak explained that he understands why Ellen may have been stressed at the time, since hosting the Oscars is a big job, but he still feels it was “no excuse” for the way she made him feel.
“It’s bugged me for years,” he continued. “I see this person come across as being very enlightened and positive and awesome and everybody loves her and is in awe and that’s really not the case when you meet her in person.”
Majercak said that interacting with her made him “absolutely see” that Ellen “doesn’t care about anybody else as long as she’s getting what she wants.”
“People are starting to see her true self and that really lends to the support of what my initial thoughts of her have been over the last six years.”
Ellen has not responded to any of the recent reports about her bad behind-the-scenes behavior.
Related: People are coming out of the woodwork to accuse Ellen Degeneres of ‘mean’ behavior
Cam
Celebrities who were jerks used to be protected, because the Entertainment magazines like PEOPLE, had deals with the Publicists and they never reported on any of the bad behavior.
Now in the age of social media I do like the idea, that Chefs, Celebrities, Studio heads and others can no longer get away with their abusive behavior.
If Ellen can fake warmth for an audience, she can act human to employees.
Catholicslutbox
Ellen views himself as a privileged cis straight white male. Entitled as heck. He’s not even funny.
That trailer of his “comedy special” was one of the worst.
wiredpup
@Catholicslutbox. Oh STFU with your weak passive aggressive homophobia.
WillParkinson
@CatholicSlutBox
Dude, WTF is your problem?
Chrisk
Catholicslutbox
She may not be your cup of tea but I find her stand up funny.
etheljkuiper28
Work From Comfort Of Your Home And Receive Your First Paycheck Within A Week. No Experience Needed, No Boss Over Your Shoulder… Say Goodbye To Your Old Job! Limited Number Of Spots Open…? 6.gp/a72TW
Cam
@Catholicslutbox
So let’s see, I point out that Ellen behaves badly, and you respond with transphobic, lesbi-phobic rants.
Calm down.
Johnne87
Wait so screw Ellen because she isn’t going around kissing her employees asses? How about saying thank you for the paycheck… or the platform. Instead of being grateful, they are trashing her! She has to be fun and playful all day everyday at work, give her a break jesus.
olfwob
If the employee is hired to protect me, or even risk his life, maybe it is a good idea to show at least some interest.
Troysky
@Johnne87 ….ya know, I agree with you. I’m not much of an Ellen fan, but she is in situations where she is under enormous pressure, and seems from all these reports, she can barely handle it, which is pathetic, but…meh…. temporarily employed under her, I’d take her behind the scenes coldness over a total jerk. Get paid, lower your expectations and move on.
Cam
I always am amazed by how far along the FOX News crazy train we’ve gone.
You’re literally saying that a boss should be allowed to break the law because they give someone a paycheck. Ellen’s reported behavior violates multiple policies.
Your argument is the same as saying “Well why should his wife be able to file a police report, I mean, he brings home a paycheck, she should smile and try not to upset him.”
Troysky
@Cam ….”Ellen’s reported behavior violates multiple policies.” ……she was cold and didn’t say hello to him…. IN THIS INSTANCE, where is she violating one policy? …I’m not a huge fan of hers, but trying to understand your point here?
Cam
@Troysky
There have been multiple reports out about Ellen, including firing somebody who got pregnant, screaming and abusing staff for eating meet, being abusive, basically, being the definition of a hostile boss.
This incident is just a mild one, but seems to provide more evidence to the people who say her on air personality is completely fake.
Gordie
I met Ellen and Portia once and I’m in the business. She was fine. Just sort of reserved. I didn’t find her distant or cold. Portia was lovely and charming. I’m not sure why the attempt at the Ellen takedown or cancel Ellen keeps going on. She’s a very busy professional woman, I didn’t read that as mean. Many many celebs – especially comedians are nothing like their stage personas. Eddie Murphy is very shy and quiet. People need to get over what their expectations are of celebrities and kindness. Ellen has helped and given money to countless people and charities so everyone needs to move off the “mean” story.
jayceecook
It’s funny because in your defense of Ellen you end up sounding a lot like this dude they interviewed. Reserved isn’t always considered a positive attribute. Sometimes it’s mistaken for being cold or distant but sometimes it is a polite way of actually saying just that. Been accused of the same many times. Though I admit I am a generally grumpy person LOL Has been my nature since birth.
Cam
@Gordie
Except the other reports have Ellen’s employees hiding from her so she can’t see what they’re eating for lunch, her going over to other sets and freaking out if they don’t serve meals she approves of, she broke rules and had outside people construct the set at her house, she refused to let staff know if they were going to get paid, then had a surrogate tell them they were getting pay cuts, even though the show was still running. Also, multiple people with nothing to gain all told similar stories.
Detox, from RuPaul, who has nothing to gain by going after a famous celeb told a story where a colleague greeted Ellen and she went on an abusive rant because somebody dared to say hello, while Portia had to act like a nurse and calm her down.
I totally get reserved, but abusive to people in your power is where I draw the line.
Jim
Anyone who has watched her for any amount of time knows this to be true.
Catholicslutbox
It’s 100% true. He’s a reckless drive too. Always going above the speed limit.
wiredpup
@ Catholicslutbox
Wanna try that again in English?
GlobeTrotter
So now we’ve moved on from cancelling celebrities because of accusations of sexual misconduct to…accusations of being mean???
So Ellen DeGeneres failed to say hello and now this was “no excuse for the way she made him feel”? THIS “bugged him for years”?!?!?! WTF???
I think these people need to spend some more alone time loving and getting to know themselves a bit more. Ellen DeGeneres is a very successful individual that rose from the very bottom to make it to the top. Nothing was handed to her on a silver platter – she had to earn it the hard way. In my opinion, she’s absolutely forgiven for having other thoughts on her mind than having to please every Tom, Dick and Harry that expect her to fulfill their fantasies of what she ought to be in private.
Does she pay her taxes? Does she pay her employees? Does she pay her bills? If so, then leave her the hell alone!!
wiredpup
Apparently this guy just wants attention.
Gordie
amen to the highest power.
Heywood Jablowme
Gee, the big tough security guard sure sounds like a snowflake. That mean lesbian made him feel bad!
jayceecook
If he’s still in the bodyguard business I think he might need to start looking for other prospects. I’m sure he’s being blackballed as we speak. I hope his interview was worth it.
jayceecook
Also, the fact that he went to Faux News to air his laundry. No ulterior motives there. Nope. No agenda at all. /S
wiredpup
He was on the RWNJ Fear, Hate and Propaganda Infotainment Machine and cried about this?
LOLOLOLOLOLOL
wiredpup
Some queen is scarred for life and is just looking for some attention.
frapachino
Ellen helped to legitimize cancel culture with her sanctimonious fake BS, I’m glad it turned on her , she’s a hypocrite like most of the woke culture!
wiredpup
Derping pretty hardcore there princess, don’t hurt yourself.
WSnyder
Well, I watched Ellen’s show a couple of times and she never said ‘Thanks for Watching’. I wrote her an email to the show and NEVER got a reply. I was visiting NYC several years ago and she was in town too and guess what? She never spoke to me. Can i be famous now?
Jared MacBride
No, because you’re not funny either.
theafricanwiththemouth
I. Love. Ellen. That’s that on that!!
I don’t care if she says high to me personally. All i know is that, as an LGBT personality, she’s been pretty awesome and generous to a great extent. Also she’s actually funny.
“Ellen is mean”, “She’s cold” yen yen yen. Oh please, clowns. You’re a bunch of clowns too queerty writers, for continuously feeding this stupid topic.
WayDifferent
Your user name is your downfall. Blacks and LGBTQs have become too “empowered” and “entitled” like females of the 60s. “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was a wonderful thing. Didn’t “you people” adore Bill Clinton too?
Cam
@WayDifferent
Hey Troll, thanks for the reminder that right wingers who hate LGBTs are also racists.
I mean we all KNOW it, but it’s nice to see the proof so regularly.
theafricanwiththemouth
@waydifferent you must feel really weak and powerless. So sorry for you, pathetic loser. You’re so pathetic that you’re oblivious to your privileged reality, clown!
theafricanwiththemouth
@waydifferent
To note, I’m not a very regular commenter on here, but your racists ass will definitely be hearing more from me from now on. Especially since my presence here affects you so greatly.
See you soon clown!!
okiloki
This just seems like petty gossip. He worked with her one time for a few hours a long time ago and had a semi bad experience. Good story to tell your friends but not go on tv over. Would rather hear what people who have known her for a long time have to say.
Toofie
We’re getting to the trashing of Ellen point that there will be an article about how she picked up something to buy but then put it back. In the wrong place.
LumpyPillows
This was not her employee. He was assigned to her at one event. Zero insight. Zero credibility. Anyone can have a bad day, including some disgruntled jarhead.
cynthia_foxe
boycott both shows she on.
WayDifferent
….12 years overdue. Gays are clueless though.
WayDifferent
The bitch was funny as hell in her flannel shirts in her sitcom in the early 90s. Most of us TRULY “aware” people knew she was a lesbian but didn’t care. Once she “came out” full force was the beginning to the end…and this applies to most of you reading this. “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” wasn’t such a bad thing. Seattle had it’s few days of “fame” too.
I lost all respect for this dumb dyke when she “adopted” that dog and, on a whim, decided to give it away to someone else and was called out on it. Her crocodile tears over this are irrelevant.
Send this dumb dyke back to whence she came.
iminheatlikeacat
So Queerty, around 70% of my comments don’t get posted and are still “under moderation” despite containing no swear words or derogatory terms but the post from the user above is fine?
Cam
Hey Queerty, I get that you don’t like to censor different opinions, but this post above is a homophobic attack with anti-Lesbian slurs.
How is this post not getting pulled?
canuckdave
That is a ridiculous comment
slinky49
He worked for her for what, a day or two when she was due to host the Oscars? That’s a lot of generalizing from very limited experience in an unusual set of circumstances. Sounds like all she was was quiet and reserved. She didn’t make him feel anything, his expectations did, and it wasn’t incumbent upon her to anticipate those expectations or labor to meet them.
Black Pegasus
LMAO yes! Drag her! Drag her! ?
hkgjefe1
Don’t you think she may have been a little preoccupied just prior to walking onstage to host the Oscars…live? Give the woman a break.
Poor baby, Mr. bodyguard. You’ve had your 15 minutes…now go away.
Norm
Who cares! I watch the show, I like it. After I turn it off I live my life without Ellen. I don’t hang around with her so I don’t give a shit what she does to anyone, so long as the show is good.
SteveM
She’s far from being the only celebrity to have a reputation among some for being not so nice or even downright mean to their employees, etc, and sometimes to their fans as well. But, since I haven’t met her and am unlikely to do so, ever, it really doesn’t matter that much to me.
gord.sabean
Perhaps she’s funny to some folks. I think though that’s where it ends. Rude, mean and condescending aren’t the best qualities to find one’s self attached to in her personal life. There’s far to many reports of these things to ignore. I think it’s a wake up moment and she may change. I guess doubtful when you’re surrounded by folks tha never say no to her. Finally she does have a big following that supports here through thick and thin.
sonic_source
The article reads, “Ellen has not responded to any of the recent reports about her bad behind-the-scenes behavior.” Why should she? If you think she’s “mean” then don’t watch her show…I don’t.
optimistic_cynic
Graham – I’ve been an online journalist and blogger – sometimes for free or for very sh#*y pay, cuz that’s the way it rolls, so I get it when you’re cranking out articles without a lot of time to put them together.
That said, there’s no excuse for misgendering a member of our community. Nikkie came out as trans a while ago and I’m almost certain she identifies as female. She deserves better from Queerty and from you.
And second, I get the thing with Ellen, I’ve been disappointed with her and many other queer folk, who’ve gotten passes because of who they had sex with or loved. That said, I’d proceed with great caution about giving a platform to someone whose complaint was lodged on FOX news. That network’s viewers would be all too happy to see any LGBTQI person’s show and their lives destroyed for no other reaason than their sexual or gender identity. Thy’re inspired by hatred pure and simple.
Report the news, yes, but please don’t join that pile-on.
ElPillo
Another Ellen-is-horrible article? We got it, you hate her
winemaker
Time for these mainly talentless hollyweird bags of worthless gas to start appreciating all the people that made them what they are. Hypocrites and phony baloneys all of them as is true of most of hollywood
DarkZephyr
He felt “demeaned” by the fact that she didn’t flash him a big toothy grin? What a big baby. I would never hire him if I was a celeb, after this. Celebrities are human beings and are allowed to have off days. The body guard is highly unprofessional ratting on clients like this. Ellen didn’t owe him a damned smile. She should sue him.
topshelf
So what he’s saying is that all employees don’t get along famously with their employers?
This bodyguard sounds a bit too precious. If I had a nickel for every time I heard an employee give a thousand reasons why his employer didn’t meet their expectations… I’d have a lot of nickels. He is ridiculous.
JoshGL
Add James Corden and Steve Harvey to the list of talk show hosts who are reviled for the way they treat staff.
Harvey’s employees are instructed not to look at him and Corden is horrible to those who aren’t celebrities or who can’t help his career. Berates fans who ask for autographs.
Otherwise, it’s all a facade.
On the other hand, Jimmy Kimmel and Gayle King are well known for being kind to staff and fans. Oprah was always viewed as tough but fair. If you worked hard, she took care of you. If you didn’t cut it, she cut you loose.