Ellen DeGeneres just announced she's done with show business—for good.
The comedian delivered the news to audience members during her Ellen’s Last Stand…Up tour stop at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa on Monday.
Per the SF Gate, an audience member asked:
“Will we see you on Broadway or movies?”
And DeGeneres replied:
“Um, no."
"This is the last time you’re going to see me."
"After my Netflix special, I’m done."
Another attendee asked the Emmy winner to reprise her role as Finding Nemo's Dory, and she reiterated:
“No, I’m going bye-bye, remember.”
DeGeneres added:
"I got kicked out of show business for being mean."
“I used to say, ‘I don’t care what people say about me.’ Now I realize I said that during the height of my popularity."
“I can be demanding and impatient and tough. I am a strong woman."
“I am many things, but I am not mean.”
In 2020, DeGeneres faced accusations from employees of her daytime talk show Ellen alleging she was rude, uncommunicative and racist, to name a few.
Former employees also complained of sexual harassment in the workplace as well as retaliation, including termination, for taking medical leave during the height of the pandemic.
Ultimately, DeGeneres left the show in May 2022.
People on social media learning of her plans to leave the industry don't blame her for her decision.
Many, however, also feel the comedian's public demise is somewhat karmic.
After DeGeneres finally apologized to her employees, she made the announcement that she would be leaving Ellen, claiming the gig was “not a challenge anymore.”
During the final episode, the host told the audience:
“Twenty-five years ago they canceled my sitcom because they didn’t want a lesbian to be in primetime once a week."
“And I said, ‘OK, then I’ll be on daytime every day. How about that?’"
"If I’ve done anything in the past 19 years, I hope I’ve inspired you to be yourself, your true, authentic self."
"And if someone is brave enough to tell you who they are, be brave enough to support them, even if you don’t understand.”
