Ellen Degeneres has built her entire brand around projecting kindness, compassion, and generosity, but rumors have long swirled that in real life, it’s a very different story. A recent Twitter thread has begun dredging up all sorts of outrageous accusations that the bubbly, uplifting TV personality is just that–a TV personality.
Over the weekend, former Ellen employee Kevin T. Porter called his old boss “one of the meanest people alive.” He then encouraged others to share their Ellen war stories, promising to donate $2 to the Los Angeles Food Bank for each one.
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
It didn’t take long for the stories to come pouring in.
One person accused Ellen of demanding nobody from a neighboring sound stage eat meat because she, personally, finds it disgusting. Another said she polices her crew’s lunch orders and doesn’t allow anyone to eat fish.
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.
There were accusations that she tried to get a waitress fired for having chipped nail polish, that she went off on someone for smiling at her and saying “good afternoon,” and that she has a “sensitive nose” and sends staff home to shower if she thinks they’re unclean.
People’s reactions to hearing such negative stories about the beloved TV comedian have been mixed.
Some are genuinely shocked by the allegations…
the most shocking moment of my quarantine is finding out that ellen is in fact mean af
— madelyn ? (@madelynmargaret) March 21, 2020
I just found out that Ellen Degeneres is a real life mean evil lady and that is honesty heart breaking ??
— Alyssa G (@alyssaxojd) March 21, 2020
The wildest thing I’ve learned over the last week is that Ellen Degeneres is a mean Hollywood elite and honestly, I did not see that coming
— Froney (@AmyTheFrone) March 22, 2020
Apparently Ellen Degeneres is a mean person. I’m honestly shocked at reading these stories. Have I just been blind?!
— Steph (@stephricker4) March 23, 2020
Now people are saying Ellen Degeneres is mean as fuck. If my world wasn’t flipped upside down before, it is now.
— ? (@_briahdominique) March 23, 2020
Others are delighted…
These 'Ellen Degeneres is a mean old douche bag' stories are giving me life. ? https://t.co/xTXNJY4OXq
— Jo Cooper (@faceforthenet) March 21, 2020
Those comments on how mean Ellen DeGeneres is to her staff and fans on here are brutal! But hey #karma
— Patti (@pattiscanlon) March 23, 2020
I love reading stories about how Ellen DeGeneres is mean. Everyone is so shocked about this. I knew all these years. pic.twitter.com/EGuUst4GlC
— Michelle C (@ElleMCo) March 21, 2020
the best part of this quarantine is all the proof that was exposed of ellen being mean
— peyton (@_peyton99_) March 24, 2020
All those tweets about Ellen being a mean and horrible boss are a great distraction tbh. The Amy Klobuchar of Hollywood for real
— The White MANSdalWHOREian (@ToriReloaded) March 23, 2020
Some are in complete denial…
Idk if I believe all these "Ellen is mean" stories… maybe I just don't want to believe it…. it just can't be true lol
— Cara Mia (@Caramia19) March 23, 2020
@TheEllenShow OMG Ellen, is it true that you're so mean? ?
— Xyz (@Xyz25804314) March 24, 2020
People jumping on the ‘hate Ellen’ show just because of some alleged stories posted on twitter actually disgusts me. We are in a global crisis, just because you are bored doesn’t mean you can start an online rage at someone. #EllenDeGeneres #peopleneedtogrowup
— Missy young (@itsmissyythedog) March 23, 2020
I’m sorry I don’t believe for one second the things people are saying about @TheEllenShow ???? Sounds like a bunch of haters to me .. #EllenRocks #EllenDeGeneres
— R.I. PRINCESS (@Tbezzy112) March 24, 2020
Ellen Generes is not mean
— Cristie Love (@CristieLove9) March 25, 2020
And others are legit not surprised…
Omg Ellen got exposed for being mean I KNEW it I knew it deep down that she’s evil
— Slimy boi (@mouth_spit) March 23, 2020
are people actually surprised that ellen degeneres is mean
— madelin (@corduroyhs) March 25, 2020
TV host Ellen DeGeneres described as one of the meanest people alive by former employees, fans https://t.co/h9By4Zob0H holy shit. i never gave her much thought but im not surprised. they always say the ones who portray a sweet public persona are the exact opposite in reality.
— r3mote (@r3mote) March 23, 2020
It is not a surprise that Ellen Degeneres is one of the worst people on earth.
— Michael Myers (@DeadRinger1978) March 23, 2020
Day 4 of quarantine: I am neck deep into a conspiracy about how Ellen DeGeneres is a mean and terrible person. I knew it.
— Olivia (@olive_m4) March 22, 2020
Ellen has yet to respond to the allegations.
Related: People are coming out of the woodwork to accuse Ellen Degeneres of ‘mean’ behavior
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
Her not eating meat is probably where the root of her problem is. She always came off to me as malnourished and when people are malnourished they tend not to think as clearly as someone that isn’t. It would help her see herself in reality instead of the “takes” that she sees and believes.
spiralx
Sorry, but no. You can be just as healthy, in fact more so, on a vegetarian diet, even on a vegan one. There are some major athletes and body-builders who are. You have to plan it, of course. To conflate not eating meat with malnourished is simply ridiculous.
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
There are people out there turned on to plucked chickens but I ain’t one of them. But hey, to each his own.
stevenjf
Ellen has done many great things for the lgbtq community.. she is however known to be cruel, crazy and mean af.. everyone in the tv industry and lesbian community in la has known this for years
dustychiffon
This is all legit. My roommate worked on her show for a season as an assistant boom person. He said they often had to quiet down when Ellen was around, or were told in morning memos if She was not in a good mood. Also they have this curtain that will drop down and block the audience if Ellen gives a signal because she’s having a fit about something, usually lighting.
And a big gossip no one seems to be talking about, is that some of the queer writers for Marvelous Mrs. Maisel based the character of Sophie Lennon (played by Jane Lynch wink wink) on Ellen.
She’s also notoriously cheap, and has often gifted her employees copies of her own book.
sonic_source
Is she mean or nice? I don’t care.
Jared MacBride
Twitter is a petri dish for stupidity. As for Ellen – she’s far from the only entertainer to act like Norma Desmond when the curtain comes down. Big deal.
Cam
A proper union would not allow this type of behavior. Threatening a strike that would knock Ellen off the air if she doesn’t start behaving like a human would end that soon enough.
mikeTigg
Of course she’s mean! She’s a power dyke! All power dykes are mean.
DawnTrans
Worse then power queens? I dont think so!
Rock-N-RollHS
Most very successful people are “mean,” bossy, tough, demanding, not “nice.” Grow the hell up. Even though I never bought Ellen’s act, I care more about the good she has done socially, which is a lot. Oprah can be quite the biatch also, so what. Tired of all the ranting and raving about celebrity behavior. I care more about the work they create and possible good they do socially. I don’t care how they treat their workers or lovers or kids. (Quite enjoying Woody Allen’s memoir btw!) Ain’t my boss, lover, or parent. Show biz ain’t nice. (Same with politics and the corporate ladder.) Can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen kids.
nitejonboy
I thought they weren’t publishing woodys memoir ? Where did you get a copy ?
Cam
No surprise. The same account that always defends Republican bigots, defends workers being treated like sh*t.
nitejonboy
I hear Rachel Ray is a major bitch too. They should join hands with Wendy Willians and all just go away
viciouslies
I thought this was an open secret for years? I worked as a PA on a made-for-TV movie she did with her (then) girlfriend Anne Heche. This was at a low point in her career, so she couldn’t be a full-out diva bitch, but even then she was super paranoid and suspicious. I remember she would hang up her jacket in the production office and tell everyone nearby not to go through the pockets (as if anyone would). Anyone bringing her food or coffee had to tell her what the item was, to make sure it was correct, and if you forgot to mention the smallest detail of her order, like something on the side, she’d ask for a new one even though it was actually correct, you just forgot that detail.
If that’s how she was then, I can only imagine how she behaves as the most popular talk show host in the country. The fact that she hasn’t pulled herself out of Emmys contention after so many wins – the way Oprah did – speaks volumes.
CityguyUSA
A mean lesbian? I refuse to believe it.
winemaker
Like who really gives a rats ass about this unimportant stuff. Like updates on nincompoops like the kardashians, nobody really cares! There are more important things all of us are dealing with now.. Just another overcompensated bag of wind and Like Wendy Williams, I gave up watching her show a long time ago I, had more important things to do…like work!
Desertmuscle8
I loveyour comment on Wendy…my roomie was watching it until its kinda in limbo..the few times I sat and listened to her was so revealing that the woman’s brain is a dumb as a rock
strap2900
Not to stereotype, but a lot of gay women tend to be mean spirited. Maybe it’s the testosterone. I have a lot of lesbian friends and I won’t go out to eat with them because they are so mean to the waitstaff and it’s embarrassing.
Chrisk
You just did troll.
Manchester
When I used to be a server back in the day, the meanest table I ever had was 4 lesbians. Brutal. They would come in every Sunday and eventually started requesting me because I would treat them nice even though they treated me like shit, none of the other servers would put up with it. I eventually started getting a decent tip from them when I finally quit and moved to the East coast. I always wondered what happened to them. One died of cancer I know.
CurtisIsTheOne
How about somebody posting to Twitter saying “Please tell us something about the good done by Ellen DeGeneres.? I’m not saying she’s not a bitch, but it would be nice to have some balance…if it exists.
pickles
A friend is a photographer who has done lots of celebrity work. She photographed Ellen and Portia and confirms… they are definitively unpleasant. They were rude, condescending and self-important. But, really, is this a surprise? I’m glad they’re rich liberals who can help our causes. I wish they’d behave better. It’s uncool.
Another doosie: Susan Sarandon. A different photographer friend photographed her and let’s just be polite and refined and say, she’s a MONSTER who is the RUDEST person he has EVER met 🙂 … And she’s possibly a Trump supporter so in my rule book, she sucks WAY harder than Ellen and P.
Manchester
I’m so disappointed in Susan Sarandon. She was at one point my favorite actress but then just turned into a political asshole. She seems very stuck in her privilege.
ScottOnEarth
Thanks for sharing that info…unfortunately, neither is a surprise. Portia and Ellen seem unbearable and Susan Sarandon just always looks and acts like a total bitch every time her cow-eyed face is on TV.
Desertmuscle8
She has a personality disorder, consider these items:
She must win at games on her “own” show
Often contestents must get splashed by colored water or worse in order to win money from her sponsers..notice never from her!
She likes to scare new guests! WHY IS THIS NECESSARY?