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Ellen DeGeneres SLAMS ‘toxic’ workplace rumors & insists she ‘doesn’t understand it’ after revealing she’s QUITTING show
ELLEN DeGeneres slammed the "toxic" workplace rumors and insisted she doesn't understand how they started after revealing she's quitting her long-time show.
The 63-year-old announced yesterday that after 19 seasons on the air.
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In an with Today's Savannah Guthrie, revealed that she was "very emotional" as she announced the news of to her long-time fans and to her employees.
She told the news anchor: "I told my staff and my crew and that was emotional and I'm glad that I did before it leaked, I got to tell my crew from my own words. And that was emotional because I hadn't been sleeping."
She further revealed that she had given the decision a lot of thought but added that she felt a lot of emotions, such as joy, relief, sadness, and pride.
Ellen told Savannah the story that she met up with an astrologer who told her that at 45 years old, she would start a show and it would go on for 20 years -- and she was right.
The Ellen DeGeneres Show premiered when the comedian was 45 in 2003.
When Savannah asked her if she was happy she stayed on after thinking of quitting three years ago, Ellen told her: "If I would sign on to do more years, I would be glad if you talk to me then. I love this show, I love the people I work with.
"It's not a hard job, but it is 170 shows a year."
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And in light of her news, the comedian said that her decision to leave the show has nothing to do with the "toxic" workplace claims - and insisted if it was she wouldn't have returned for the current season.
She told Savannah: "If it was why I was quitting, I would have not come back this year.
"I really did think about not coming back, because it was devastating. It started with attacks on me and attacking everything that I stand for and believe in and built my career around... I am a kind person.
"I am a person who likes to make people happy. I am a people pleaser and this is who I am.
"So when I started reading these ridiculous things and it just kept going and going and going."
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She admitted that she told her wife, , that people were "trying to hurt me" as they continued to make claims she was a bad person, adding that she understands why people believed it was true.
When asked if she thought someone wanted to "cancel her," she said: "I really didn't understand it, I still don't understand it. It was too coordinated, people get picked on but it went on for four months and it shocked me to read it in the press when all I've heard is how happy this atmosphere is."
She said when asked how come she didn't know people were being racially profiled, harassed, and bullied: "I don't know how I could have known when [there are] 225 employees here and there are a lot of different buildings.
"Unless I actually stayed here until that last person goes home at night. It's my name on the show, so clearly it affects me, and I have to be the one to stand up and say this can't be tolerated."
Ellen also made the claim that she felt the attacks made against her over the summer happened because she was a woman, who was successful at her job and was in charge of one of the most highly-rated shows in its time.
"I have to say, if nobody else is saying it, but it's interesting because I'm a woman. It felt very misogynistic, it felt like I am a boss, I have a very successful show, I've never had any complaints about anything for 17 years and it did feel sexist," she revealed.
However, she did criticize herself for not making sure to meet every one of her employees but claimed that the reason why she didn't get to do that was because they grew as a show far too quickly.
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Her comments come after viewers saw yesterday.
The daytime host immediately got emotional during her monologue confession as she explained that her “instinct” told her the time for The Ellen Show was here.
“Today, I have an announcement to make. This season, season 19, is going to be my last season,” she said on Thursday's show, according to a preview clip.
The 63-year-old comedian then began to have tears swell in her eyes as she needed a moment to collect herself.
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"So the past 18 years, you have to know has changed my life. You all have changed my life.
“I am forever grateful for you for laughing, dancing and sometimes crying. This show has been the greatest experience of my life and I owe it all to you.
“So thank you, thank you thank you,” she repeated with a bow to the virtual audience.
Ellen said that she "thought a lot about this decision" and "sat with it for a while," adding: "Two years ago I signed a deal for three more years and I always knew in my heart that Season 19 would be my last."
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She added that "19 is a great number," as the 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote and "on the periodic table, 19 is the atomic number for potassium."
Ellen said she had to trust her instincts that it's "time" to end the show, stating: "As a comedian, I have always understood the importance of... timing.
"In all seriousness, I truly have felt like next season was the right time to end this amazing chapter.
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"In 1997 I knew it was time to come out on my sitcom and live my truth.
"Back then I had a vivid dream that a bird flew out of a cage and set itself free because it needed to get out of that cage and recently I had a dream that a bird- a beautiful bird with bright red feathers came to my window and whispered, 'You can still do stuff on Netflix.' And that was the sign I was looking for."
Despite the show coming to an end, Ellen "promised" her viewers that they will have "a fantastic final season" and "it will be a season where I truly get to say 'thank you."'
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She concluded: "Everyday will be a celebration. There will be a lot of surprises. There will be trips down memory lane, a few detours through 'why did I wear that' ally."
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According to , Ellen told the news to her staff on Tuesday and plans to discuss it with Oprah Winfrey during her Thursday episode.
Ellen will be quitting after her 19th season finishes airing in 2022.
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