Ellen DeGeneres Takes Accountability For “Toxic Workplace” Environment During Season 18 Premiere
On Monday, Ellen DeGeneres kicked off the season 18 premiere of The Ellen DeGeneres Show by addressing the big allegations against her including creating a “toxic workplace environment” and being called “mean” by staff and guests.
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She began her introduction by saying,
“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,” DeGeneres said. “I take that very seriously and I want to say I am so sorry to the people who were affected. I know that I’m in a position of privilege and power and I realized that with that comes responsibility, and I take responsibility for what happens at my show.”
While speaking to a virtual audience from her stage, she went on to note that “This is The Ellen DeGeneres Show. I am Ellen DeGeneres. My name is there, my name is there, my name is on underwear,” DeGeneres continued. “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.”
DeGeneres explained that she started saying the phrase “be kind” when a teenager named Tyler Clementi killed himself after he was bullied for being gay back in 2010.
“There were also articles in the press and on social media that said that I am not who I appeared to be on TV because I became known as the ‘be kind’ lady. And here’s how that happened: I started saying, ‘Be kind to one another’ after a young man named Tyler Clementi took his own life after being bullied for being gay,” DeGeneres said.
“I thought the world needed more kindness and it was a reminder that we all needed that, and I think we need it more than ever right now. Being known as the ‘be kind’ lady is a tricky position to be in. So let me give you some advice out there if anybody’s thinking of changing their title or giving yourself a nickname, do not go with the ‘be kind’ lady. Don’t do it. The truth is I am that person that you see on TV.”
From there, DeGeneres sent off her apology to those who were affected and offended.
“This summer was a little crazy. It was intense, but during that time there’s been a lot of learning, a lot of discussions, a lot of listening,” tWitch said. “You and I have had numerous discussions and for me, I’m just so excited to be back here in the studio so we can do what we do best, which is bring laughter, love, and fun and also lead by example by putting our best foot forward after a bounce back. It’s all love.”
“It’s all love,” DeGeneres responded to tWitch. “That’s all that real, is love. That’s the truth.”
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