Disgraced Ellen DeGeneres Turns to Therapy After Explosive Toxic Workplace Scandal
PHOTO: RANDY HOLMES VIA GETTY
Ellen DeGeneres has opened up about the toll the backlash from accusations of creating a toxic work environment took on her, revealing that it led her to seek therapy. In her latest stand-up special on Netflix, For Your Approval, the former daytime talk show host shared how the intense public scrutiny and “cancel culture” affected her mental health.
“I was in therapy for a while trying to deal with all the hatred that was coming at me,” DeGeneres confessed in her comedy special. “It was not a common situation for a therapist to deal with.” DeGeneres faced widespread criticism in 2020 after reports emerged of a toxic workplace environment on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which eventually contributed to the show’s cancellation.
Reflecting on the experience, DeGeneres revealed how the negativity from various media outlets compounded her feelings. She humorously recounted a conversation with her therapist that highlighted just how overwhelming it became, according to Variety.
“At one point, my therapist said, ‘Ellen, where do you get this idea that everyone hates you?'” DeGeneres shared with the audience. “And I said, ‘Well, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly, Us Weekly, and I think Elmo may have said something recently on an episode of Sesame Street.'”
In her typical comedic fashion, DeGeneres used humor to navigate the challenging emotions she experienced, turning the dark period into material for her performance. But behind the jokes, she was candid about the difficulty of avoiding the media storm. “My therapist said, ‘I think you just need to avoid looking at the news, just avoid media,'” DeGeneres explained. “I said, ‘I am. I’m not looking at anything.'”
Despite trying to distance herself from the criticism, DeGeneres admitted that she couldn’t completely escape it. She noted that even when she wasn’t actively seeking out negative stories about herself, friends’ well-meaning messages served as an indirect reminder of the controversy. “I would always know when something was going on because I’d start getting texts from friends saying ‘thinking of you’ or ‘sending love,'” she said, The Hollywood Reporter.
Although DeGeneres’ return to stand-up marked a moment of resilience, her candid remarks reflect the emotional impact of the public fallout she experienced in recent years. Her Netflix special blends humor and vulnerability, giving fans insight into how she coped with one of the most difficult times in her career.
In For Your Approval, DeGeneres seems to be turning the page on that chapter, using her signature wit to address the complexities of fame, media scrutiny, and personal growth in the face of adversity.
