Ellen DeGeneres is hanging up the mic and dancing her way out of the limelight.
On Wednesday the comedian and talk-show host announced that her upcoming 19th season of The ‘Ellen DeGeneres Show’ will be the final one. She’ll be going out in fashion as she sits down with Oprah Winfrey today (Thursday, May 13) to discuss her reasoning behind ending her talk-show.
While discussing her decision publicly for the first time Ellen told The Hollywood Reporter.
Ellen disclosed in the past that wife Portia De Rossi had been attempting to persuade her to move on from the 180-shows-a-year-gig. Although her brother along with Warner Bros. executives had encouraged her to continue. Resulting in Degeneres signing on an additional 3 more seasons back in 2018.
The timing of her departure comes shortly after last year’s reports about a toxic work environment on The ‘Ellen Degeneres Show’. Although Ellen claims the allegations did not impact the series’ future, because she originally wanted to end with Season 16.
Numerous allegations from past and present staff members employed by Degeneres continued surfacing all throughout 2020. During this time the ‘The Ellen Shows’ rating took a detrimental hit. Amidst the controversies, rumors began circulating of the possibility of a cancelation. These rumors were repeatedly shot down by her production company.
Following the accusations, ‘The Ellen Show’s’ parent company WarnersMedia, launched an internal investigation into the allegations. About a month later, three of The Ellen Show’s top producers were ousted. Rumors speculated this was a scapegoat tactic to ease tension on the talk-show host herself.
Although Degeneres is leaving her show she’s not leaving the entertainment world altogether. She still hosts Ellen’s Game of Games on NBC and ‘Ellen’s Next Great Designer on HBO Max. Ellen recently disclosed to THR she’d be open to returning to the big screen.
