Ellen Degeneres has built a brand around projecting kindness, but rumors have long swirled that in real life, it’s a different story. A recent Twitter thread is dredging up accusations that the bubbly, uplifting TV personality is just that — a TV personality.
“Right now we all need a little kindness. You know, like Ellen Degeneres always talks about!” tweeted former Ellen employee Kevin T. Porter.
He continued: “She’s also notoriously one of the meanest people alive.
“Respond to this with the most insane stories you’ve heard about Ellen being mean & I’ll match every one w/ $2 to @LAFoodBank”
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.
Right now we all need a little kindness. You know, like Ellen Degeneres always talks about! ???
She’s also notoriously one of the meanest people alive
Respond to this with the most insane stories you’ve heard about Ellen being mean & I’ll match every one w/ $2 to @LAFoodBank
— Kevin T. Porter (@KevinTPorter) March 20, 2020
“Oh and the caveat is yes they have to be real!” he said in a follow-up Tweet. “Cause we need some REAL kindness right now.”
Porter wasn’t expecting to quickly amass nearly 300 responses, and true to his word, he donated $600 to the Los Angeles Food Bank.
The stories, of course, are unverifiable, but here are some of the replies:
TV writer Benjamin Siemon said:
“She has a ‘sensitive nose’ so everyone must chew gum from a bowl outside her office before talking to her and if she thinks you smell that day you have to go home and shower.”
He added:
“A new staff member was told “every day she picks someone different to really hate. It’s not your fault, just suck it up for the day and she’ll be mean to someone else the next day. They didn’t believe it but it ended up being entirely true.”
Chris Farah tweeted:
“I worked @RealFoodDaily, served her … at brunch. She wrote a letter to the owner & complained about my chipped nail polish (not that it was on her plate but just that it was on my hand). I had worked till closing the night before & this was next morn, almost got me fired.”
Author Allison Freer wrote:
“Was working on a show @ WB that was next to her stage. Was our showrunner’s 50th Bday. Caterer grilling steaks outside for special fancy lunch. Ellen sent someone over to demand they stop, as she doesn’t eat meat. She’s the worst.”
She also tweeted:
“I have another food one: she polices her crew’s lunch orders, nobody allowed to eat fish etc. They would come hide on our stage to eat what they wanted away from her.”
Drag Race star Detox shared:
“An old friend worked on her lot & smiled & said “good afternoon” to her one day & she became unhinged. “Who do you think you are? You don’t look at me” yada yada. She said Portia was with her & seemed embarrassed & tried to calm her down. Has forever changed my opinion of her.”
Stand-up comedian Josh Levesque said:
“Another friend of mine was a PA on her show and when Russell Brand came into the employee break area to chat with the crew and hang out, Ellen came in and got mad at him – saying he didn’t have to interact with these people, that’s why guests have their own area backstage.”
Not everyone was down with the exercise, however.
“Why would you encourage negativity, especially at such a trying time?!” one commenter responded. “Just do the positive thing you have suggested, which is support the food bank. Important to remember that no one is perfect. Not even you. Why encourage others to criticize another, and so publicly?”
Well this got out of hand! It’s now hard to tell which stories are real or not, so I’ve rounded up to 300 and donated $600! pic.twitter.com/dX08ybhdos
— Kevin T. Porter (@KevinTPorter) March 22, 2020
frapachino
I use to work in the music industry, she did an event with us and us indeed a nasty demanding woman! But then the ones who act all loving and self righteous usually are the most hateful people!
ShiningSex
Not true. Some nice people on tv are actually nice in person. I have met several.
She’s an exception.
pfcnaples
Of course you did sweetie and when you woke up from that dream……….
Jared MacBride
If you took all the jackasses off television there’s be nothing left to watch. Which, come to think of it, wouldn’t be a bad idea.
broadshoulder
Dreadful woman
HankHarris
This has been floating out there for a while, anyone entertainment-adjacent has heard these stories. Also – she is super cheap, given how rich she is. But that is how many rich people stay that way.
Tishthedish1
Well some are…Just like there are mean and nasty gay man! But you rarely see a lesbian mean to another female!
FlickaNash
Years ago a friend of mine who travels frequently was telling me how he enjoyed chatting with flight attendants and that whenever he asked who was the nastiest celebrity they always said Ellen. It must wear on you having to be that fake nice all the time. Oh well, she made her bed.
AxelDC
This is one of the lamest articles I’ve ever read.
ShiningSex
it’s hilarious! It all seems to be true. What’s wrong with that? Calling out a piece of shit for their behavior.
CMarks
I stopped watching because I could no longer stand the mean spirited “pranks” and “games” from which she seemed to get so much enjoyment.
jmg619
Can you imagine if someone did that to her? She would be HOT! Also her game show where she seems to torture the contestants for prizes? I think she gets off on shit like that. She must have some pent up rage we don’t know about.
batesmotel
Yeah that’s where I started to question what Ellen is really like when she’d go too far with those pranks. Some of them are done out of fun, but then others fly up your spine as just plain rude and unfunny.
Davidparacka
I’m just waiting for someone to punch her in the face when she scares them, I can’t stand being scared, I volunteer!
tjack47
I’ve no idea what she’s like. I stopped watching the show years ago. Her game show is not my cup of tea, either. It has nothing to do with her being kind or not.
JamJewel
WoW! Maybe why her game show is all about people humiliating themselves.
Norm
I’ve met some pretty mean dykes in my life. I remember when I was a kid, 5,6 years old, a friend and I were walking down the street and I noticed this guy walking towards us. I’m talking to my friend and by now the guy is going by, so I glance at him and I couldn’t believe it. I blurted out, “It’s a women!” She turned to me and in this mean voice said, “Shut up kid!” I just remembered that, now that we’re on the subject of lesbians, which that was my first encounter with one. Then when I got out of high school, I got this job in this company and I remember seeing a few dykes go by me while I was at my work station. I remember thinking, “Wow, lesbians.” Then it was lunch time. I went to the cafeteria and there must have been 200 of them. All kinds. They knew I was gay. They didn’t like the gay guys and there were a couple hundred of them too. You’d go to the bars and you’d see half the employees were there. There were a few real nice dykes that I became friendly with. We’d hang out at work and I’d get to meet the other mean ones. I’d just give them a chance and they’d melt like butter, LOL. To me, they must have had it rough growing up. They probably wanted to hang around with all the boys and be one of them. They probably made fun of them. Boys aren’t as nice as girls. Now I just give them the benefit of the doubt, they’d get to know me and then they were nice. She may be mean but there has to be something nice in there for her to get thru that show of hers. Be kind, if she’s mean, let it roll off your back. It’s a way to make yourself feel like a better person, take advantage of it, be nice and feel good. Even if she was that mean, maybe some day she may come around . She’d be more likely to come around with people who were nice than were being like everything they say she is.
Donston
I’ve had my encounters with “lesbians” and “queer” women who outright hate men or have no interests in defending “gay males”. However, “gay men” are often seen as bitchy, mean and bitter. While queer/bi/pan/fluid identifying people are often seen as narcissistic, indecisive and frequently contending with internalized homophobia. I’ve known enough people in my short life to know that some folks fit certain stereotypes and some don’t. You gotta look at people as individuals. Besides, my two best friends are “lesbians”, and they’re incredibly loyal to me and practically pushovers. I often have to remind them to stand up for themselves and be direct with folks. So, no, this is not aligning.
I’m actually disappointed with Kevin. I became a semi fan from his from those Gilmore Guys podcast. Whatever issues he has with Ellen this was not the time for it, and this was not the way to put it out there.
frapachino
Don it must be exhausting keeping all those labels and categories of people in your head all the time!
Cam
Hmmm, maybe if you didn’t call them dykes.
geb1966
Sounds like you were a rude little shit when you were 5 or 6. Anyone would have told you to shut up.
SPEEDOSWIMMER
Penis Envy
Tempus
That’s just stupid. I mean he requests these stories while saying we need “kindness” despite seeking negativity and he asks for only true stories when he knows that there’s no way any of these stories he receives can be proven true. I’m not saying they are or aren’t true just that there’s no proof either way. Some of the sources may seem credible but even that is debatable so overall it just is a ridiculous way to grab attention while trying to stick a positive spin on it by donating money to charity as a reward for spewing negativity. Regardless, he’s obviously pissed off at Ellen or he wouldn’t be doing this yet that’s their business as I don’t care.
Jim
Would anyone really classify her game shows as an example of “being kind”?
kevininbuffalo
It was her games and pranks that turned me off on her. She comes across as a sadist, I don’t watch her anymore.
ShiningSex
She does a lot of good for others except her own. Sad.
She seems mean. She also looks like the most boring person to hang out with.
Beachman
Its been common knowledge in Hollywood FOREVER how nasty Ellen is…old news…
ScottOnEarth
Absolutely no surprise. Ellen is a serious narcissist. I cannot imagine what a nightmare she is in real life, with pretty much everyone around her on her payroll. I haven’t watched her show in years because she’ such an obvious fake.
KaliLA
Having lived in LA for years, that’s what I have heard about Ellen. She is mean.
jkb
I’m less miserable than Ellen? Who’d a thunk?
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
While my YT feed sends clips of her doing really nice things (like 10k checks) to people who have done good by others, there seems to be a whole lotta instances of her being pretty nasty.
Kinda like the old adage if there is smoke there is fire….
okbye
All that gifting and charity could be to allay some internal guilt about being a bitch. “I’m a good person, I gave these people $5000”.
I’ve never met her but these rumors have been out there for years. Makes you think there must be some truth in there.
corktownboy
an angry lesbian? who would have thought it?
Gary Q VV
Ellen Degeneres is a queer lady, at least that was my first impression of her. And, since I don’t personally know of her off-screen habits, for now, I’ll have to go with this opinion. I’m aware of the world of lesbians, dykes, and angry bull dykes – and they’re quite a mixture of haters of male gays, male queers, and most other males in this world – it’s most likely due to the Freudian penis envy theory. I agree with most of the commenters here that TV and Hollywood personalities are full of low lives who consider themselves as devine on screen, yet are actually deviant off screen.
Inspector 57
I don’t have any credible understanding of the way that Ellen is off-stage.
But I went “off” her as soon as I saw her interview with Kevin Hart in which she agreed — no, not “agreed,” but “emphasized” — with him that anyone who would hold him accountable for his homophobic comments and lack of remorse is a “hater.” He was totally playing the martyr, and she was totally supporting him.
Mundo
exactly.
Wheelerman
I don’t know anything about Ellen, and I don’t care. I don’t watch her show. What I know is that lesbians became caretakers for gay men infected and dying from AIDS in the ’80’s & ’90’s. They were on the front lines with us taking care of our sick brothers. I made some close friendships back then that have lasted.
Onecaddy13
My rule is to never talk about your former employer whether good or bad because one day it’ll come back to haunt you. But
Onecaddy13
Oops. As I was saying, my opinion of Ellen.changed years ago and have stopped watching anything Ellen. You can see right through her when she’s interviewing celebrities or just plain citizens. You’re very biased and very political and you use your platform for all America to see, and won’t book anyone that disagrees with you. Ellen, this is America, we debate one another, we don’t stick our noses in the air and walk away Sorry Ellen, we can’t be as rich as you, and wear the finer clothing, but us common folk like basic cotton and we’re sure nicer than you and that’s worth a lot more than money can’t buy. So, Stop quoting what you’re “famous” for? and practice what you preach. Add to everyone else, just change the channel.
geb1966
Here’s the way it works. You have a talk show. You get to choose the guests. It’s quite simple.
jdr11201
Poor girl,
she’s old so she’s cranky, I would be too I hadn’t gotten laid since 1980. That’s what happens to old rich folks ;/
Yooper
“an old friend told me…”, “another friend of mine…”, how about first person accounts with credibility (credible, look it up). No other group of people relish tearing down their own like us gays.
Chrisk
Yeah, that’s what I come away with too. All just second hand info. Ironic that they’re calling her mean and nasty while doing the same thing here.
masterwill7
Such BS! All fake, all people who find themselves very interesting writing something about her.. So negative to bash someone who does so much good.. Only in America… I really like her and don’t believe all this crap.
WillyWilly
Those are pretty weak stories to back up any theory that she’s the Queen of Mean. Most of them sound petty at best or completely made up at worst. My fave is the “chipped nails” loser – I am so sure that a super busy celebrity took the time to write a letter to your employer only because of your polish – that seems so plausible. I find for some reason, us gays, and I roll my eyes while I write this stupid expression feel the need to “spill the tea” – whether it’s hot gossip or not – so much so that we don’t mind exaggerating or outright lying. I’m sure she has her good days and her bad days, like everybody else. And I’m sure someone as successful as she is has to run a tight ship and be tight with money so people don’t try to take advantage of her. That just makes her like most other folks in her position – no better, no worse – just human. Thank goodness, no one’s making lists of all the times I’ve woken up on the wrong side and acted like a jerk.
J W G
I worked around Hollywood celebs for eleven years in W Hollywood. It’s all true about Ellen. She came into our establishment once where she parked her car illegally and got a ticket. She made us pay the fine. The nicest celebs? Whoopi Goldberg, David Schwimmer.
batesmotel
I’ve always liked Ellen, but one of my friends has said she isn’t a nice person for years. I never bought it as I’ve never witnessed proof of that. Anyone can tweet anything about someone, but doesn’t mean their tweet is true. Although there have been a couple of incidents where I’ve felt Ellen went too far with an audience member by putting them on the spot viciously. It was almost cringe worthy, but so has Wendy Williams. These talk show hosts are not as sugar and sweet as they might come off apparently, but they’re human. No one is all nice. Just scan your twitter feed. That isn’t much different than the accusations about what others are doing.
JoshGL
Can we now address how monumental a prick James Corden is to his staff and anyone who is not famous?
Notorious asshole.
Second re Whoopi. Genuinely nice.
Perhaps not a surprise but Judge Judy is a peach in real life.
And one of the biggest assholes: Steve Harvey. Legendary.
Cam
She defended her friendship with George Bush who literally ran for office on a platform of hating LGBT people and she didn’t just offer a “Both sides” defense of Kevin Hart’s homophobia, she painted Hart as the victim and the LGBT people calling him out as bullies.
So no, this doesn’t surprise me.
GayEGO
I must say that I am shocked that she is a stompin’ diesel dyke, something we used to call them back in the 1960s. I do not watch her anymore, but I did watch her last decade.
sillyme
I’ve waited on Stars and their wives or husbands and I tell you never once did one do that to me in fact one person not a star got rude to me from L.A. who sat in the restaurant I was working in at a hotel and I threw her attitude back to her at the same time then she got all sweet and nice and I had no problem with her from then on. It may be that is what’s needed to be done in this case. It’s worth a try it can’t hurt anyone.
Chevelter
I’m not here to defend Ellen because I’ve heard the stories, too. All I can say is she was nice to me on the four separate occasions I encountered her personally, albeit long ago – in 1994, 1995, 1997 and 2004. The first time was when I asked for a picture with her and she cheerfully complied. The next two encounters I was with friends who asked to take a picture with her and she was nice also. In 2004 I ran into her at a Hollywood Hotel and she posted for a photo for me (without me also in it).
Maybe she changed over time, after my encounters with her. Fame, money, fawning attention, narcissism….that’ll do it. Jerry Seinfeld is somewhat an example. Nicest guy you’d want to meet back in the 1990s but by then he got super hot and by the time his hit show came to an end in 1997 he had turned into kind of a snot. Again, the corrosive effect of super fame. I have no idea how he behaves to the commoners today.
Also this guy in the story asking for tales of Ellen’s nastiness while telling people “We need some real kindness now” seems a bit contradictory.