Portia de Rossi ridiculed after linking ‘bot attacks’ to Ellen DeGeneres controversy in confusing show of support
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi attend the Netflix 2020 Golden Globes After Party on January 05, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)
Ellen DeGeneres’ wife Portia de Rossi appears to have suggested that the recent controversy surrounding the Ellen show is down to internet bots.
Allegations against The Ellen DeGeneres Show have been piling up in recent weeks. Former staff have spoken out, claiming that she show’s workplace culture is marred by racism, intimidation and fear. Others have alleged that executives engaged in rampant sexual misconduct and harassment, claims that have been denied by the producers accused.
The controversy surrounding the show prompted WarnerMedia to launch an internal investigation. While DeGeneres has not been implicated in any of the claims, her reputation has taken a battering, prompting de Rossi to speak out in a bizarre Instagram post Monday (August 3).
Alongside a picture that read “I stand by Ellen”, de Rossi wrote: “To all our fans….we see you. Thank you for your support.” She then added the hashtag #StopBotAttacks.
Her Instagram followers were unconvinced, however, with one writing: “It’s not bot attacks, her employees are speaking out.”
Another responded: “And guests who aren’t celebrities are also. Is everyone wrong???? Probably not.”
“These are real people with real experiences but I guess you can call them bots lol,” a third person wrote.
Or, as one Twitter user put it: “Portia de Rossi blaming bots for Ellen’s PR nightmare is…….. something.”
Portia de Rossi blaming bots for Ellen’s PR nightmare is …….. something. pic.twitter.com/8duNNQ3z5n— John Buysse (@JohnBuysse) August 4, 2020
Representatives of de Rossi did not immediately respond to a request for clarification.
Ellen DeGeneres apologises to staff over ‘toxic’ workplace culture.
Last week DeGeneres also reportedly broke her silence on the controversy surrounding her show, issuing a grovelling apology to her staff while managing not to shoulder any personal responsibility.
In a letter to staff seen by Us Weekly DeGeneres said: “On day one of our show, I told everyone in our first meeting that The Ellen DeGeneres Show would be a place of happiness – no one would ever raise their voice, and everyone would be treated with respect.
“Obviously, something changed, and I am disappointed to learn that this has not been the case. And for that, I am sorry. Anyone who knows me knows it’s the opposite of what I believe and what I hoped for our show.”
She added that she often “relied on others to do their jobs as they knew I’d want them done. Clearly some didn’t”.
DeGeneres continued: “I’m also learning that people who work with me and for me are speaking on my behalf and misrepresenting who I am and that has to stop.”
