Rumours have been circulating for many years about how difficult DeGeneres is to work with. In March of this year comedian, Kevin T. Porter took to Twitter and started a thread asking people to share “the most insane stories you’ve heard about Ellen [DeGeneres] being mean.” The tweet garnered more than 2,600 replies.
Following shocking allegations of a toxic workplace environment, Warner Bros.Television, which produces the show, initiated an investigation and found that although "not all of the allegations were corroborated, we are disappointed that the primary findings of the investigation indicated some deficiencies related to the show’s day-to-day management."
In response, DeGeneres indicates in her first address to a virtual audience for a new season of the Ellen DeGeneres Show, that she has committed to changing the workplace culture on set.
In her monologue, she says: "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 that were affected.
"I know that I'm in a position of privilege and power, and I realise that with that comes responsibility. I take responsibility for what happens at my show.
"We have had a lot of conversations over the last few weeks about the show, our workplace and what we want for the future, we have made the necessary changes and today we are starting a new chapter."
She was criticised by the media for being different in real life to her on-air persona who is known for encouraging viewers to "be kind". She addressed this issue by saying that she started saying "be kind to one another" at the end of each show after a young man named Tyler Clementi, who was bullied for being gay, committed suicide. She went on to say, "Being known as the 'be kind lady' is a tricky position to be in," she said, "I am that person that you see on TV, I am also a lot of other things. Sometimes I get sad. I get mad. I get anxious. I get frustrated. I get impatient. And I am working on all of that."
Watch her full address below :
Today we’re starting a new chapter. pic.twitter.com/PvpZXnXLv5
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) September 21, 2020
