Ellen DeGeneres will reemerge on daytime television next week for the premiere of season 18 of her namesake NBC talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
What her tone will be following a long summer of scandals and accusations is anyone’s guess, but while Ellen’s image as the “queen of nice” may be tarnished, there’s long been evidence it was perhaps an ill-fitting title to begin with.
Related: Ellen DeGeneres pens letter to staff about the allegations against her show
In a recent New York Magazine story, Mariah Carey remembers a particularly distressing 2008 appearance on Ellen that she describes as “extremely uncomfortable.”
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At the time, there was media speculation that the pop singer was pregnant — a claim Carey had intentionally avoided speaking about. During the interview, DeGeneres steered directly towards the topic. After Carey responded that she doesn’t want to talk about it, DeGeneres brought out a bottle of Champagne and poured Carey a glass, challenging her to drink it. The audience laughed as Ellen eventually proclaimed “You’re pregnant! You’re pregnant!”
“I was extremely uncomfortable with that moment is all I can say,” Carey told New York Magazine. “And I really have had a hard time grappling with the aftermath.”
“I wasn’t ready to tell anyone because I had had a miscarriage,” Carey added. “I don’t want to throw anyone that’s already being thrown under any proverbial bus, but I didn’t enjoy that moment.” A few weeks after the interview aired, she miscarried again.
“[There is] an empathy that can be applied to those moments that I would have liked to have been implemented.”
Related: Anne Heche breaks silence on Ellen controversy
As of this post, the clip remains up on the official Ellen website with the headline: Ellen Can Tell That Mariah Carey’s Pregnant
The description reads: “Mariah Carey won’t respond to pregnancy rumors, but Ellen knows how to get an answer out of her without saying anything.”
DeGeneres, meanwhile, had this to say to her staff following recent accusations of a hostile work environment:
“On day one of our show, I told everyone in our first meeting that The Ellen DeGeneres Show would be a place of happiness — no one would ever raise their voice, and everyone would be treated with respect. Obviously, something changed, and I am disappointed to learn that this has not been the case. And for that, I am sorry. Anyone who knows me knows it’s the opposite of what I believe and what I hoped for our show.”
ronniebs
But Mariah came back to the show 5 more times. Also, Sofia Vergara said she was in on the joke. Let Ellen move on.
vinnieboiblue
Mariah the pariah is just jumping on the knock Ellen down bandwagon. Stop inflating your boobs, or you will fly away soon!
justgeo
Empathy for what your silicone? Silly stupid sell out!
Liquid Silver
What does this have to do with the price of beans in Kansas this year?
zephyr69
It’s not even Christmas yet so why are we talking about Mariah?
M K
Sounds like MC is implying the airing of the episode was the cause of her miscarriage.
The_Roxxtar
How did you get to that conclusion? All she said is that she didn’t want to talk about it because she had a miscarriage previously. And that it was an awkward moment, which if you watch the clip, it clearly was.
LumpyPillows
Piling on Ellen is now a woke thing. Maria, however, should get prepared for them to come for her now. She’s way worse.
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
After reading what made Mariah uncomfortable I am now convinced that this B (Mariah Carey) really does have psychological issues that needs immediate attention. What did Ellen say or do that warranted her being uncomfortable? It sounded like a harmless gesture to me and if Mariah is THAT sensitive then she needs to stick to what she does best, go out on stage, sing, and then take her rear end back to her hole or under her rock where she seems to be living. I felt all along the problem was with her, not Niki Minaj a few years back when they were judges.
Terrycloth
Ellen gets a evil thrill out of making her guest squirm .she badgers her guest until she gets the answer or the reaction she likes. You can see it in her eyes .what’s her catchphrase..be kind to each other…lip sservice only.
darkanser
Never knew that there was so much animosity out there towards Maria Carey. Maybe I don’t know enough about her public persona besides her obvious talent. I can understand if she suffered a miscarriage that she might harbor a fear of any future pregnancy. Naturally I’ve never been pregnant but I can empathize and can see how it might be a sensitive subject. To make matters worse, she then suffers ANOTHER miscarriage?? Every time she got pregnant, she must have been on pins and needles!!! I will admit I wrote this before I watched the clip. MC didn’t seem THAT uncomfortable but maybe she covered it well.