Ellen DeGeneres returns to TV, addresses misconduct allegations in opening monologue

Beloved American TV show host-turned-TV villain Ellen DeGeneres has premiered the final season of her controversial talk show with a bang.

Ahead of the show’s season 18 premiere overnight, the 62-year-old opening monologue was posted on social media ahead of the syndicated broadcast of the full episode.

It was simply titled: “Today We Begin a New Chapter.”

In it, DeGeneres spends five minutes bluntly addressing the scandalous and toxic rumors in the workplace that have plagued her for months.

The personality has spent the American summer locked up and has rarely been seen in public after her spectacular fall from grace this year.

“How was everyone’s summer? Okay? Yeah? Mine was great,” he said sarcastically, giving up two thumbs. “Super great”.

“If you’re looking because you love me, thank you,” he says.

“If you’re looking because you don’t love me, welcome back,” she said, acknowledging the fact that all eyes will be on her as she faces the mounting accusations.

In the scathing monologue, DeGeneres admitted that it is a “work in progress” but pleaded with viewers that he is still “the person you see on television.”

“There are many things I want to talk about, I was looking forward to addressing them all directly. And unfortunately, talking to people directly has been illegal for six months,” he joked, referring to the coronavirus pandemic, which the United States saw yesterday registered more than 200,000 deaths.

“As you may have heard this summer, there were allegations of a toxic work environment in our program and then there was an investigation. I learned that things happened here that should never have happened,” he said, echoing an earlier letter he sent to his crew.

“I take it very seriously and want to say that I am very sorry for the people affected.”

The once bubbly and vivacious star on every episode of The Ellen DeGeneres show became the biggest villain of 2020 after several former staff members, celebrities, security guards and guests of the show opened up about their negative experiences. with her.

DeGeneres alluded to the layoffs of top producers Ed Glavin, Kevin Leman, and Jonathan Norman, but offered some glimpses of the real change or behind-the-scenes details, except to add that the cast and crew had “a lot of conversations over the last few weeks about the program, our workplace and what we want for the future. “

She simply said that they “made the necessary changes” without disclosing what those changes are, except for the fact that “we are beginning a new chapter.”

‘I get angry’

She admitted that being known as the “be nice” lady is “a complicated position to be in” after current and former employees made accusations of racism and bullying in explosive Buzzfeed articles. They also claimed that there was widespread sexual misconduct among top executives on the show.

He said that although she “is the person you see on television … I am also many other things.”

“Sometimes I get sad. I get angry. I get anxious. I feel frustrated. I get impatient. And I’m working on all of that. I’m a work in progress.”

“And I’m working especially on the impatience thing because … and it’s not going well because it’s not happening fast enough.”

The Finding Dory star said she knows “I’m in a position of privilege and power and I realize that comes with responsibility.”

“I take that responsibility for what goes on in my show. This is Ellen DeGeneres’s show. I’m Ellen DeGeneres.”

She joked that while she’s a “pretty good actress” who has played a “straight woman in movies,” she said she’s not good enough to “come here every day for 17 years and cheat on you.

“This is me,” he said.

“My intention is to always be the best person I can be. And if I ever disappointed someone, if I ever hurt their feelings, I am so sorry.

“If that’s the case, I was disappointed and hurt too.”

WarnerMedia is reportedly nearing the end of its investigation into the show.