For nearly two decades, Ellen DeGeneres The Show and its colorful host invaded American homes, shattering stereotypes while captivating viewers with a clever combination of entertainment and celebrity interviews.
But after more than 3,000 episodes, the chat show that managed rival Oprah Winfrey’s success, ended Thursday on a sour note, due to testimonies narrating a toxic work environment in outright contradiction in its slogan Be kind (be kind and kind).
When we started the show in 2003, there was no iPhone. Neither are social networks. Gay marriage is not legal, Ellen DeGeneres recalled last month. We have seen the world change, sometimes for the better, sometimes not.
Breaking the glass ceiling
The cultural scene has changed a lot since 1997, when the star, who rose to fame as a comedian, appeared as gay-simultaneously on television as Ellen, her character in a sitcom of the same name, and in real life, on the cover of Time magazine.
Ellen was the first star in a television series to appear as gay and, while her performer was immediately catapulted to gay icon status, the sitcom was canceled a year later due to a comeback. of stick. This was the beginning of a desert crossing that would last five years, before Ellen DeGeneres recreated herself as an animator.
It was an event, a milestonebut it has also become controversial, says Mary Murphy, a professor of journalism at the University of Southern California.
” He accelerated the road. He is probably – and could be – the most popular LGBTQ+ person in America “
Play a star game
If Ellen DeGeneres never hid her sexuality, her address book overflowing with famous guests and her lightness made her successful, especially in the more conservative regions of the United States.
For 19 seasons, all of Hollywood has been scrambling for a place on the host’s couch, where they can promote themselves comfortably, never being pushed around by more than a little teasing.
Obligatory passage: the dance, at the beginning of each program. Barack Obama, then an ambitious young senator, sketched a few steps into the hit song Crazy in Love by Beyoncé in 2007.
Some celebrities have come more than ten times. Actress Jennifer Aniston, the first guest, returned to complete the circle on Thursday in the final show.
She is one with the celebrities, their friend. Celebrities know this. And he makes everything beautifulcommented Mary Murphy.
Perhaps because of self -suffering, he did not want to torture other people. He is not looking for them.
But his set isn’t just reserved for stars: the public, or emerging YouTube personalities, are regularly invited to enjoy their quarter of a time of glory, sometimes for fun games.
Ellen is the funny, goofy and broken character who doesn’t take herself too seriously, judges Jeetender Sehdev, author of The Kim Kardashian Principle. We haven’t seen a talk show host who looks like him, or his character …
” She was the woman with short hair and wearing pants, while the others were hot brushing. “
controversies
However, rumors of a less rosy atmosphere behind the scenes have exploded. buzzfeed published, in 2020, an investigation into the show’s toxic work environment, including accounts of sexual harassment, intimidation, or racism.
Three members of the show’s production team were made redundant. Ellen DeGeneres has been accused of not knowing how to manage her team, and being less responsive in private than in front of the camera.
Last May, when announcing the end of the show, however he denied any connection to these controversies. I need a new challengehe said in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter.
However, controversy has only accumulated for the star host, again amid criticism for his defense of comedian Kevin Hart, who gave up performing at the Oscars in 2018 after a resurgence of old tweets condemned as homophobic. .
He was suddenly out of favor, examines Mary Murphy. He seems to be close to celebrities, close to the public, but far from his co -workershe added.
For Jeetendr Sehdev, Ellen DeGeneres has always been full of contradiction.
This is part of the reason why it attracts so many people at why its integrity, credibility and authenticity are in questionhe said.
Also read:
Ellen DeGeneres will end her show in 2022
Ellen DeGeneres reacted to accusations of harassment on her show
Ellen DeGeneres apologizes for the toxic climate at work on the set of her show
Source: Radio-Canada
