Ellen DeGeneres declares ‘love’ for her crew as she tries to shake accusations of being ‘one of the meanest people alive’
Ellen DeGeneres, after production of her show was suspended due to coronavirus, is back and is filming from her Los Angeles living room. (YouTube/The Ellen Show)
American talk show host Ellen DeGeneres has sought to dial down claims that she is “mean” off-camera by expressing her “love” for her crew.
Detractors have long seeded doubt over DeGeneres’ sunny stalwart image, but suspicion turned to controversy after a comic Kevin Porter took to Twitter to describe her as “one of the meanest people alive”.
He encouraged Twitter users to share their “insane stories” of DeGeneres’ behaviour, pledging to match each one with a $2 donation to LA Food Bank.
The damning thread hoarded hundreds of unverified stories of the daytime talk show host’s behaviour claimed by apparent ex-employees as well as Los Angeles locals, seemingly at odds with her reputation as an oasis of positivity and generosity.
Porter raised $600 after opening the flood gates.
Ellen DeGeneres ‘loves’ and ‘misses’ her show crew.
Beauty YouTuber NikkieTutorials, real name Nikkie de Jager, recently appeared on The Ellen Show. She made some barbed comments about DeGeneres after her slot in February, seemingly supporting the allegations plaguing DeGeneres.
As the backlash bubbles, DeGeneres has sequestered herself at home since the coronavirus pandemic which led to a shutdown of television productions.
But she has returned to air Monday with episodes filmed entirely in her living room.
On the first episode back, she said: “I wanted to start doing my new show as soon as possible because it’s really for people who are stuck at home.
“Especially my staff and crew.
“I love them. I miss them and the best way I can support them is to keep the show on the air.”
Her words echo a Twitter video the 62-year-old shared in March of herself shortly after suspending The Ellen Show.
This was my show staff’s planned spring break week. I’ve asked them all to continue to stay home, and disconnect for a week. I wish I hadn’t. I miss them. But I’ll be posting lots more next week when they’re back. Until then, enjoy today’s Safer-at-Home Spring Break 2020. Day 1. pic.twitter.com/Ou21rpRyS8— Ellen DeGeneres (@EllenDeGeneres) March 24, 2020
“I wish I hadn’t. I miss them,” she said as in a tearful video on social media, explaining that she’s feeling “stir crazy and anxious” as she self-isolates.
