She confirmed that her decision was not the aftermath of the workplace toxicity allegations.
Ellen DeGeneres has been entertaining people around the world with her eponymous talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, for close to two decades. Recently, the TV host announced it was time for her to bid farewell to the show that encouraged people to be kind to one another.
According to People, DeGeneres said her upcoming 19th season would mark the end of her journey with the daytime series.
In the opening monologue of her latest episode on May 12, the 63-year-old talk show host stated, "Today I'm announcing that next season, season 19 is going to be my last season."
She continued, "The past 18 years ... has changed my life. You all have changed my life. I am forever grateful to all of you for watching, for laughing, for dancing — sometimes crying. This show has been the greatest experience of my life and I owe it all to you."
Further, the host told her audience that her decision comes after contemplations and conversations with her loved ones.
"I sat with it for a while. I meditated on it. I talked to Portia. I talked to myself. A few times I was talking to myself and Portia thought I was talking to her. One time I was talking to Portia but she thought I was talking to myself because of the other times when I was talking to myself and she thought I was talking to her," said DeGeneres. She added, "One time I was talking to Alexa and Siri answered, and another time I was talking to the TV and I accidentally texted my eye doctor. The point is, I need to take a break from talking."
DeGeneres also corroborated that her decision was not a spontaneous one. Rather, she knew the 19th season would be the last of her daytime series when she signed to extend her contract about two years ago. "The truth is I always trust my instincts. My instinct told me it's time. As a comedienne, I've always understood the importance of … timing. In all seriousness I truly felt like next season was the right time to end this amazing chapter," said the host.
Further, the award-winning host reminisced the beginning of her show and thanked her fans for standing by her side throughout her journey. "Eighteen years ago, on the very first show, I said that this was gonna be a relationship. And we're gonna continue that relationship even when this show ends. But not in this house. 'Cause you know I love to move," she shared.
While many linked her decision to the controversial allegations of workplace toxicity, DeGeneres confirmed that it was not her motivation. "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, " said the host to The Hollywood Reporter.
Alluding to the allegations, she argued, "It almost impacted the show. It was very hurtful to me. I mean, very. But if I was quitting the show because of that, I wouldn’t have come back this season. So, it’s not why I’m stopping. But it was hard because I was sitting at home, it was summer, and I see a story that people have to chew gum before they talk to me and I’m like, 'Okay, this is hilarious,'" according to Metro.
The toxic workplace allegations against DeGeneres prompted an internal investigation and the parting of three top show producers — Ed Glavin, Kevin Leman, and Jonathan Norman. "Ellen is definitely a perfectionist and knows she can be difficult, but she never wanted to come across as mean-spirited. She is looking at herself to make changes," said a source to People in September 2021.
References:
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/ellen-degeneres-show-end-1234951571/
Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Kevork Djansezian
