Embattled daytime talk show host Ellen DeGeneres thought she could squash an entire summer of scandals with a heartfelt, six-minute on-air apology during the season 18 premiere of her show, but it appears she may have miscalculated how deeply hurt and upset people still are.
Season 18 of The Ellen Degeneres Show premiered yesterday and kicked off with the comic finally addressing her and the show’s turbulent hiatus.
“How was everybody’s summer — good? Mine was great,” Ellen said, before talking about all the things she’s “learned things that happened here that never should have happened.”
“I take that very seriously and I want to say I am so sorry to the people who were affected,” DeGeneres said. “I know that I’m in a position of privilege and power and I realized that with that comes responsibility, and I take responsibility for what happens at my show.”
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Now, several current and former employees of The Ellen Degeneres Show are speaking to Buzzfeed, which first broke the story earlier this summer, about how they feel about Ellen’s remarks and–surprise!–they’re not buying any of it.
“Not only did Ellen turn my trauma, turn our traumas, into a joke, she somehow managed to make this about her,” one former employee says.
Another adds: “When she said, ‘Oh, my summer was great’ and that was supposed to be funny I thought, ‘It’s funny that you had a rough summer because everyone was calling out all of the allegations of your toxic work environment and now you’re the one suffering?’”
And a third one notes, “The right thing would be to follow up with these people who are humans who were affected by this. They have a responsibility to kind of close this chapter of our lives and move on.”
“It just feels like there’s no ending to this for people who came forward and said things that happened to them and reopened these wounds and rehashed these memories.”
A current employee tells Buzzfeed that there’s still a lot of chaos behind-the-scenes, with higher-ups not being forthcoming about, frankly, anything. They also they don’t buy Ellen’s apology, suggesting the whole thing is calculated and insincere.
“It’s always tactical,” the employee says. “The average person will listen to it and make their own choices, but what people don’t always take into account is that information is power, and she’s sharing it now because it’s for premiere week and it’s to get viewers back, and that just feels the opposite of what this message is about.”
They add they’re disappointed Ellen chose to make “inappropriate jokes” while discussing her employees’ genuine traumas.
“When you’re talking about people who have accused her leadership of the seriousness of sexual misconduct, I don’t think it’s appropriate to have jokes in the monologue.”
Giving credit where credit is due, the current employee says it was “amazing” to hear her finally address the show’s toxic work culture after it had been swept under the rug for so many years.
“It’s kind of amazing that this is being discussed on her show,” the employee says. “To actually go from an environment where nothing is said and everyone keeps their head down to now when it’s the topic of her first show back is pretty amazing.”
“Whether or not I believe in this message that she is saying is another issue.”
Interestingly, at the end of Monday’s episode, Ellen didn’t close with her signature “be kind” message. Instead, she told viewers, “Feel this love and I’m giving it back to you, and spread that in the world. Spread that, not other things–just the good stuff is what we should spread. Alright, bye, everybody.”
So how did people on Twitter respond to Ellen’s apology? Well, it looks like those reviews are rather lukewarm as well…
Ellen was “cancelled” a lot over the past few months, and I stumbled across her apology today. I personally think she could’ve gone without making multiple jokes to keep it more serious (as the allegations were), but that is her brand. Thoughts? #CreCommPR https://t.co/5U0KLw3k0d
— Bryn Ormiston (@brynormiston) September 21, 2020
watching Ellen’s “apology” monologue like pic.twitter.com/DKuC5nKNOZ
— becca ? (@beccalikeya) September 21, 2020
ellen got that youtuber apology
— nibole?? (@waddlesburg) September 21, 2020
ellen degeneres’ apology video sounds like a notes app apology pic.twitter.com/Bo6Ls5fDU5
— ?? (@heyitskariema) September 21, 2020
Ellen DeGeneres is gonna have to apologize for the apology lmao
— Shamar English (@english_shamar) September 21, 2020
imagine not being able to get thru an apology without a laugh track ?
anyways, when i was figuring out what i wanted to do post college the amount of industry folk who said to me “whatever you do, don’t work for ellen” is incalculable pic.twitter.com/BlNEPDXzfy
— ari (@AriellaSchwartz) September 21, 2020
Ellen with that whack ass apology for bullying her employees and creating a toxic work environment. The whole thing was cringe.
— Nahum Gima (@nahumkennie) September 21, 2020
Nobody believes Ellen’s apology, and that virtual audience of oversized iPads is terrifying. pic.twitter.com/xBITkhxV3G
— connor (@connororwhatevs) September 21, 2020
Ellen's apology speech was like
"I realize I'm privileged and rich"
*laugh track*— lilsamsquanch (@lilsamsquanch66) September 21, 2020
Ellen DeGeneres gave that “apology” & 5secs later tapped into her narcissism saying how she’s an actress & her name is everywhere on the show. pic.twitter.com/PMyn2RHBvI
— Rachel. (@_loveRachel_) September 21, 2020
it sucks that ellen was able to offset most of the blame on to her EPs who were investigated—who were predatory and toxic and SHOULD be outed as such—but EVERYONE who works in hollywood knows ellen HERSELF was the highest cited complaint!!!! her apology makes it seem like she’s
— Jill Gutowitz (@jillboard) September 21, 2020
Ellen plying victim, then making jokes about the accusations, then trying to flip the script, then making some vague apology and saying it’s a “new chapter”…. pic.twitter.com/KMIX7XNyKZ
— Benjamin (@BenjaminGrier) September 22, 2020
The Ellen DeGeneres ‘apology’ seemed extremely fake and scripted. I was her fan for 10 years and I can’t look at her without thinking of all the people she’s hurt along the way and thinks an apology to her talk show audience is enough. It’s not enough.
— lms (@lacey_maries) September 22, 2020
Cam
“”“I know that I’m in a position of privilege and power and I realized that with that comes responsibility, and I take responsibility for what happens at my show.”””
_______________________
She “Takes Responsibility” right before passing off all blame to other people.
Jay002
Leave Ellen alone if you think it was a tocic work environment then go try to work for the Trump administration. Ellen had to deal with things that some of you have dealt with and some of you haven’t like being thrown out of her parents house as a teenager because they thought she would molest kids. That could make you into an adult bitch.
kevininbuffalo
All of us have suffered trauma in our lives. That doesn’t give anyone the right to take it out on others. I’m a few years older than Ellen and I’ve had my share of pain without Ellen’s success, fame and privilege. I still try to respect people. We need to get past this notion that past pain excuses current wrong doing,
Cam
I wasn’t aware that being abusive and violating multiple employment laws were all excused because Ellen had a few bad days.
Polaro
@cam which employment laws and how did Ellen violate them?
Cam
@Polaro
Harassment and hostile work environment laws. The fact that three top producers were fired so quickly is usually a sign that they are protecting the person at the top. Because normally they would have drawn out the process if those three producers were really the ones at fault. But when somebody above them is the real culprit they will sacrifice lower executives quickly.
michael_totzke
She doesn’t get it. She WON’T get it. She will NEVER get it.
Nosso Crankee
That simping shrew brought all of this on herself when she mewlingly embraced and “forgave” that belligerent bellowing hateful midget Kevin Hart and chastised the gay community for being dismissive, judgemental and mean spirited for the demanding that Hart be held accountable for his unending display of rabid homophobia over the decades.
Oblivious ellen, long removed from the daily violence directed at non celebrity queers existing sans the BUFFER enormous wealth like ellen’s ensures, made a grave and fateful error that day; she chose to deem herself Divine, she virtue signalled after her mis-steps with Hart to reinterpret her betrayal of the gay community
and immediately lost the bedrock upon which her success was built, that is, the Support and backing of the gay populace.
winemaker
Why all the continued updates on ellen degenerate? Really nobody with half a brain and a life really gives a rats ass about this overpaid and untalented windbag who somehow got a lucky break and continues involving us in her unending drama. She’s a disingenuous phony trying to keep her image and if she weren’t GAY and brought this up al the time she’d have been a ‘has been’ years ago. Just what does the gay community see in this phony who’s done nothing for anyone but herself.
tjack47
I’ve never worked for a celebrity. I’ve worked for a few assholes, but workaday people typically aren’t spoiled little bitches who are as entitled as these accusers are. I hope you have smelling salts next to your fainting couch. An ampule of ammonia ought to do the trick. I’m sick of disgruntled little heifers.
Cam
It’s odd that multiple acounts keep trying to come in here, and without any link or derails keep trying to say that the victims of Ellen’s abuse are wimpy, entitles, etc. all of the same language Republicans try to use to attack Millennials for complaining that college now costs a fortune and companies aren’t hiring.
The fact that other celebs have come out and said that they know people abused by her, additionally people who don’t work on the show but who have been on the studio set have said she’s a monster.
So keep on trying, but if this is the best that Ellen’s PR folks can do, no wonder this problem got so bad.
ElPillo
Queerty is a toxic gay environment.
Doug
Reading some of these comments, it’s clear that no matter what she said, it would never be enough for some people.
Cam
Translation: She abused people, and now because she’s getting called out on it, she is somehow the victim.
bachy
A lot of these ‘woke’ critics are laboring under what’s called The Nirvana Fallacy: the belief that unless someone is 100% “perfect” – from Day One – then they are unredeemable villains and must be destroyed. Learning curves are not allowed. Anyone over the age of 18 should recognize how sophomoric that is. As a fellow imperfect human, I’m on Team Ellen! Let’s face it, we all have stuff we need to work on. Ellen and I only hope they never find where the bodies are buried!
Cam
@bachy
Or people don’t like crappy bosses who make going to work hell. You know, one or the other.
StudioTodd
Even the headline on this post proves the point that it is impossible for Ellen to ever do enough to satisfy the mob calling for her head. Also, the headline is a lie–some people are cool with her apology. I happen to believe the apology was not necessary. She did nothing to her audience for which an apology is needed. I don’t even think she, personally, did anything to her staff that merits the excoriation she’s been given. Even if one were to believe all of the accusations (many of which just sound absurd), most of them are experienced every day in corporate environments around the world.
As has been said, if their workplace is so toxic, they should leave. Otherwise, the damage you’re inflicting will end your job anyway because the show will end. Just shut the hell up about it, whiney crybabies.
metta
I don’t want to bash her but I think she should try the apology thing again. It is not “If” you caused harm. She has. She should apologize without the if. That would be the first step to be able to start healing.
randy_sanchez
Why do people everywhere continue to look for mistakes in people so to have an excuse to degrade them in whatever they do. NOONE is perfect. Plus you know this is an entertainment program. See it if you want, don’t see it if you want. That’s up to you. Everyone has a right to judge peoples actions and determine for themselves if those people deserve ones attention.
stanhope
Of course ellen is a tuesday gal…see you then…..she is a fake, look at how her domestic staff says she behaves. She is human scum portraying a character.
Norm
Unfortunately, I don’t know Ellen personally like you people do. I imagine you know her. Anyone that doesn’t, wouldn’t say stuff like the things I’ve read here. I’m gay and have been around long enough to know how gay people are. Some of those comments could have been made by trump or one of his evangelical friends. They don’t know even know Ellen but they’d make things up just to make her look bad. They’d rip her apart and they don’t even know her. They do and say things like that about all gay people. Gay people would never do or say things like that unless they were true you know. If your gay, how many other gay people do you know that would do or say something like that about you? Probably none, “I’m sure!” If you people didn’t know her, you wouldn’t go after your own kind as cruelly as you have, unless you knew it was true I guess. I really thought Ellen was nice, trying to be positive and honest and coming out, letting people think gay people weren’t bad. How dare she. Good thing there are gay people like you people that know Ellen personally and can fill everyone else in on how she really is. Imagine what it would be like to be gay if all gays were like you people.
Cam
Translation: As long as you liked her show, it’s fine if she abuses the people working on it and illegally harasses them.
Norm
Oh, and to Miss Cam, you don’t know she’s doing that. Do you know her personally? Are you a flat earther? Do you believe in conspiracy? Oh that’s right, you’re one of those gays I mentioned.
Cam
@Norm
I love it that no matter what screename you’re hiding under, you always expose yourself as the same right wing troll.
wooly101
If staff don’t like it they can always quit. Nobody’s holding a gun to their heads. However working in such a business probably has great benefits and prestige. If somebody is going to fall apart every time a fanny is petted or a rude joke is told, they will remain stunted no matter what. Yeah, sweetheart she’s rich and probably a bit of a bitch; it comes with the territory. If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
Cam
1. You just condoned sexual assault in your post.
2. Funny how all of these brand new accounts are suddenly showing up continually trying to paint the CEO as the victim and not the workers they abuse.
How about we look at it the other way. Ellen gets hundreds of millions of dollars, so it isn’t too much to ask for her not to terrorize the people showing up to work who make $40,000 a year and just want to pay their rent and buy groceries.
Jack Meoff
SO what are the odds this will be her last season?
OhHellNo
Face it, kids – your admiration has been misplaced. Ellen was once an actual activist, but decided big bucks to dance like a monkey was more important (at least Rosie didn’t dance). Now when she “gives money and gifts” she isn’t giving shit, sponsors are paying for all that. Ellen spends her millions on flipping homes and fueling her ego. You’d think she’d at least use some of it to fix that nose. It was novel to see her actually trying to look a little less like a dude for apology day, at least.
s b
“This is the Ellen DeGeneres Show, and my name is MUD!”
Honestly: who does she think she’s kidding?
Terrycloth
She thinks shes a role model for gays since she came out on her sitcom..it didnt do a thing for me..unless she was a man or a young guy. .the lesbians must love her.i find her insecure, insincere,, unfunny and demanding ..I see evil in her eyes.espically when she plays game where food is flung at contestants or they get wet or she scares them. She gets off on it. She has 100 other jobs. Shes worth around 400 million..give drew or Kelly her time slot cancel ellen
winemaker
I lived in Los Angeles for many years and people like her are a ‘dime a dozen, ‘n in fact, they’re like a ‘dime a gross’ That being said nobody really gives much as a rats ripe ass about ellen dgenerate and her non stop drama. Most of us have lives and don’t have tome for this BS and for those who do, they need to seriously ‘get livers’