Gogglebox stars ridicule Ellen DeGeneres’ ‘awkward’ apology: ‘She’s obviously not really sorry’
Ellen DeGeneres addressed allegations of misconduct on the set of her talkshow. (YouTube)
Gogglebox Australia viewers were left sufficiently unimpressed by Ellen DeGeneres’ season 18 opener, in which she windingly apologised for reports describing her as a boss who harboured a toxic workplace.
In the episode on Wednesday evening (30 September), the Gogglebox crew lit into the 62-year-old for the “awkwardness” of her apology.
“It undermines the meaning of the apology when you’re just cracking jokes,” Millie Dalton, according to the Daily Mail.
Dressed in white blazer, jeans and her signature white blazer, DeGeneres addressed the rows of computer screens blaring the images of virtual audience members after months of silence.
“Racism, fear and intimidation” have long defined the back corridors and meeting rooms of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, according to a slew of former and current staffers.
The volley of accusations promoted Warnes Bros, the studio that distributes the syndicated program, to launch an internal investigation as well as the dismissal of three top producers.
Gogglebox cast call Ellen DeGeneres apology ‘super awkward’.
“I feel awkward, I feel awkward watching it,” said Chantal Bakac. “I don’t know if I buy it. Actions speak louder than words.”
In a seven-minute-long monologue, DeGeneres softly and between jokes rebuked claims that she is “mean”, saying: “The truth is, I am that person that you see on TV.
“I am a work in progress,” she added.
“This is super awkward, knowing everyone is watching and hating you,” said Matty Fahd, “then you have to get up there to apologise and you’re obviously not really sorry.”
Matt Dalton said: “She’s not addressing the hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of workplace complaints about her being nasty.
“When not one but 300 people complain, maybe there’s a smell there.”
Her on-air apology followed two others – first, an email, then a video conference to staffers. All three times, she took responsibility.
“Let’s get to it,” she said on the show. “As you may have heard, this summer there were allegations of a toxic work environment at our show, and then there was an investigation.
“I learned that things 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.
“I know that I am in a position of privilege and power and I realise that with that comes responsibility, and I take responsibility for what happens at my show.”
