Ellen DeGeneres’ production company responds to rumours her ailing chat show will be cancelled

Jul 02 2020
Written by Josh Milton

Ellen DeGeneres reportedly made an emotional Zoom call to staff. (Getty)

Will The Ellen DeGeneres Show be cancelled? Shaken by allegations of “mean” behaviour, the comedian now facing a fresh test to her sunny reputation as rumours swirl.

Reports have brewed that The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which has been on the air for nearly 17 years, has seen ratings crater during its 17th season. Figures hit a new record-low in June, according to TVNewsCheck, of 1.2 – a 14 per cent drop.

It comes as the host, long lauded as an oasis of optimism, has seen her reputation take a drubbing as former guests and staff accuse her of poor treatment.

This has led to rumours that Ellen will soon be cancelled, leading her production company to speak out.

Representatives from Telepictures told the New York Post that any rumours of the show’s demise are “untrue”.

Ellen DeGeneres battles ‘mean’ allegations.

While her show appears to be safe, Ellen DeGeneres is battling a major backlash.

Spikes have, over the years, been thrown by celebrities, former employees and viewers under the comedian’s feet. She has always denied them, once saying to the New York Times: “That bugs me if someone is saying [that she’s not nice] because it’s an outright lie.”

Yet, the flood gates opened this year after one of Ellen’s ex-employees, Kevin T Porter, described her as “one of the meanest people alive” in a winding Twitter thread.

He encouraged Twitter users to share “insane stories” of her behaviour, pledging to match each one with a $2 donation to LA Food Bank.

An avalanche of allegations soon came crashing in from former employees, neighbours and others linked to her, with claims of bullying staff, stringent workplace rules and heated encounters all colliding with her perky image.