Ellen DeGeneres Opens Up About Challenges in Show Business During Stand-Up Tour

Ellen DeGeneres humorously declared she was “kicked out of show business” during the inaugural show of her “Ellen’s Last Stand…Up Tour” in West Hollywood. Mixing humor with candid reflections, DeGeneres shared her experiences with the audience, as reported by Rolling Stone’s Krystie Lee Yandoli.

DeGeneres, known for her “be kind” persona, joked about the ironies of her public image. “I became this one-dimensional character who just danced up steps and gave stuff away. And let me tell you, dancing up steps is no easy feat! Imagine if I had ended my show with a ‘Go fuck yourself’—now that would have been a surprise,” she quipped.

The comedian touched on the painful end to her long-running daytime talk show, which concluded in May 2021 amid swirling controversies and an internal investigation by Warner Media into allegations of workplace issues. Despite the circumstances, DeGeneres insists these did not influence her decision to end the show.

Reflecting on her leadership style, DeGeneres admitted to her shortcomings as a boss. “I wasn’t cut out for business school—I was a regular at Charlie’s Chuckle Hutt. Just because my name was everywhere at Warner Brothers, didn’t mean I was equipped to be in charge,” she shared humorously.

Ellen also spoke about the emotional rollercoaster of her career, from being ostracized after coming out in the 1990s to reaching new heights with her talk show, and then experiencing a fall from grace. “It’s a tough business. You’re either adored or vilified, and those critics have loud voices,” she explained.

DeGeneres summed up her experiences with a mix of humor and resilience, noting, “For those keeping score, this is my second time getting kicked out of show business. And they’ll probably do it a third time—because I’m mean, old, and gay.”

Fans can look forward to more insights and humor from DeGeneres as her tour special is set to air on Netflix this fall.