Entertainment
Ellen DeGeneres will sit down with Oprah Winfrey to reveal why she’s decided to end talk show after 19 seasons
Ellen DeGeneres will open up about her decision to end her daytime talk show during a sit-down conversation with long-time friend, Oprah Winfrey.
After a turbulent year, the comedian revealed she was calling time on The Ellen DeGeneres Show when season 19 comes to an end in 2022.
The Hollywood Reporter states the 63-year-old sat down with her staff to inform them of the news on May 11, and will discuss her decision further in a chat with Oprah Winfrey on May 13.
Speaking about her decision to sit down with Oprah, Ellen explained to the publication: ‘We’re friends and we’ve talked about how hard this is.
‘I haven’t asked her advice yet but I’m sure she’s going to say exactly what my agent did, “Sit still for a while and figure it out.” But look at her. She stopped and she didn’t have to do anything again and she’s done a tremendous amount since then.’
The comedian continued: ‘So, I don’t look at this as the end at all. It’s the start of a new chapter and hopefully my fans will go with me wherever I go.
‘That being said, if I never do anything else ever again, I’m so proud of what this show stood for and still stands for and what we’ve made it through.’
Oprah, who was Ellen’s predecessor as the queen of daytime talk shows, has famously played a part at some of the biggest moments in Ellen’s career so far.
In April 1997 Oprah interviewed Ellen after she came out as a lesbian publicly – which eventually led to the cancellation of her sitcom, Ellen.
Now Ellen has chosen to pull the plug on her chat show, telling THR: ‘When you’re a creative person, you constantly need to be challenged – and as great as this show is, and as fun as it is, it’s just not a challenge anymore.’
News of the Ellen DeGeneres Show’s end was first reported by DailyMail.com, with an insider telling the publication that her ratings have ‘been truly appalling’ since reports emerged over a ‘toxic workplace’ behind the scenes.
‘She’s promised one more season after this one and will exit at the end of the 2021/2022 season,’ they said. ‘The ratings have tanked and have been truly appalling this year and Ellen knows her time is up.
‘The show has bled viewers since the toxic environment around Ellen and her show was made public.’
Last summer, allegations were made of misconduct behind the scenes of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, with anonymous employees alleging that they were forced to work in an environment of racism, fear and intimidation.
Reports also saw employees accuse some executive producers of rampant sexual assault and harassment.
The presenter later delivered a candid statement in September of last year, addressing the claims as she said: ‘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. I take that very seriously and I want to say I am so sorry to the people who were affected.’
Ellen continued: ‘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.
‘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.’
It was revealed that, following the allegations emerging, her show had lost more than 1million viewers.
According to data measurement firm Nielsen, the show saw a sharp decrease in its viewership after the allegations were reported.
The New York Times reported that in the six months leading up to March 2021, the show averaged at around 1.5million viewers, over 1million fewer than the same period the previous year.
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