Ellen DeGeneres opens up about being 'kicked out of show business'

“It's hard to dance when you're crying," the former The Ellen DeGeneres Show host said

Ellen DeGeneres has addressed the controversy surrounding her leaving her talk show,  as she made her comeback to the comedy stage.

The former talk show host took the stage at Largo in Los Angeles, California on April 24. Ellen, who is now 66, humorously reflected on being "kicked out of show business" for being perceived as "mean."

The former host was referencing the situation resulting from a July 2020 BuzzFeed News report where current and former staffers spoke anonymously about their experiences on set, citing issues such as being penalised for taking medical leave, encountering racial microaggressions, and fearing retaliation for voicing complaints.

"The hate went on for a long time and I would try to avoid looking at the news," the comedian, who is now 66, recounted. 

After her stand-up act, she engaged in a Q&A session with fans in the audience. 

When asked if she continued to "dance" during challenging times, DeGeneres candidly confessed that she struggled to maintain the positivity she preached on her show.

Despite feeling "in a funk" and becoming "persona non grata" for the second time since publicly coming out as gay in 1997, DeGeneres shared that she has found solace in her relationship with wife Portia de Rossi. 

"I'm making jokes about what happened to me, but it was devastating," DeGeneres emphasised. "It took a long time for me to want to do anything again."

After an internal investigation into the alleged toxic workplace claims, DeGeneres apologised to her staff, and three top producers, Ed Glavin, Kevin Leman, and Jonathan Norman, left the show. Staffers also received improved benefits.

In May 2021, DeGeneres had announced that her long-running daytime program would conclude with its 19th and final season.