Ellen DeGeneres, once known as the friendliest face on TV, faced a tough patch in 2020. Her talk show was criticized for a toxic work environment, and social media piled on with negative stories, some blaming her.
Additionally, memorable instances added to the discomfort, such as the cringe-worthy interview where she engaged in a back-and-forth with Dakota Johnson regarding a birthday party invitation. Also, the uncomfortable moment when she encouraged Mariah Carey to consume champagne to dispel pregnancy rumors. Besides, she made insensitive remarks during the early stages of the pandemic when she compared her spacious and opulent mansion to a jail.
But it’s not just work drama. Ellen has had her share of controversies, from befriending politicians to feuds with other talk show hosts, allegations of being controlling, and revealing painful parts of her past.
Ellen DeGeneres’ Controversial Friendship with George W. Bush
In 2019, Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, made headlines when they were seen enjoying a Dallas Cowboys game in the company of former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura Bush. This unexpected association stirred up controversy, as Ellen, a self-proclaimed “gay Hollywood liberal,” was accused of hypocrisy for socializing with a Republican Party leader who was widely criticized as a war criminal.
Facing criticism, Ellen addressed the issue on an episode of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” She defended her choice of companions, explaining to her audience, “Here’s the thing. I’m friends with George Bush. In fact, I’m friends with a lot of people who don’t share the same beliefs that I have. We’re all different, and I think that we’ve forgotten that that’s okay, that we’re all different. … Just because I don’t agree with someone on everything doesn’t mean that I’m not going to be friends with them.”
She further emphasized, “When I say, ‘Be kind to one another,’ I don’t mean only the people who think the same way that you do. I mean be kind to everyone. Doesn’t matter.”
While Ellen received support from celebrities like Kristen Bell, Sir Elton John, and Reese Witherspoon, she also faced pushback, with Mark Ruffalo tweeting, “Sorry, until George W. Bush is brought to justice for the crimes of the Iraq War … we can’t even begin to talk about kindness.”
Ellen DeGeneres Admitted to Driving Her Wife to the Hospital While Under the Influence
In 2021, Ellen DeGeneres made a surprising revelation during her appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” She essentially confessed to driving under the influence, although it was from consuming three CBD-infused beverages, as she recounted the night when her wife, Portia de Rossi, had to undergo an appendectomy.
Not being a regular consumer of cannabis, DeGeneres disclosed that she had indulged in three Cam Social Tonics, a type of weed drink recommended to her by fellow talk show host Chelsea Handler, on that particular evening. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter, de Rossi required medical attention.
DeGeneres recalled the moment, saying, “I’m laying in bed, and I realize [Portia’s] not in bed. She’s moaning. I get out of bed, and she’s on the ground on all fours, and I said, ‘You’re not OK.’ She goes, ‘I’m OK.’ I said, ‘No, unless you’re playing Twister by yourself, you’re not OK.’ So I rushed her to the emergency room.”
When questioned about her decision to get behind the wheel in that state, DeGeneres acknowledged that it was a mistake, saying, “I did. I mean, I kicked in, like my adrenaline, because I just had to rush her there. It’s probably not safe, I shouldn’t be saying any of this.” Fortunately, de Rossi’s surgery went well, and she was back home recovering within a few days.
Ellen DeGeneres’ Influence on Anne Heche’s Style
Before Ellen DeGeneres married Portia de Rossi, she had a notable relationship with Anne Heche. They met at a party and dated for three years, but their split didn’t seem entirely friendly, based on comments made later.
In 2021, Heche shared a memory on TikTok about her fashion choices. She mentioned a blue dress she wore to the Golden Globes in 1998 and said, “Why do I look like a hippie? It’s because Ellen didn’t want me to dress sexy.”
In the year before that, Mr. Warburton magazine asked Heche about the controversy surrounding DeGeneres and her talk show’s culture. Heche didn’t exactly defend her ex-girlfriend. She said, “I haven’t spoken to Ellen in years. I’d listen to the people who have. If I’m standing someplace and I don’t like what’s going on there and I stay there, it’s my fault. So what are the actions that got me there and why can’t I get out of it easily if that’s not something that I want to be engaged in? Ellen is standing where she walks, and that is hers to continue that journey.”
Ellen DeGeneres and Anne Heche’s Messy Breakup
A year after Ellen DeGeneres and Anne Heche parted ways, the reasons behind their split remained a mystery to the public. Surprisingly, it turns out that Ellen herself was just as clueless as everyone else.
In a 2001 interview with the Los Angeles Times, DeGeneres revealed that she was still struggling to come to terms with the breakup due to the lack of closure. She said, “She walked out the door, and I haven’t spoken to her since. I don’t have the answers, I would love to have them myself. I would ask all of the questions that everyone else wants to ask … I’m left with everybody else wondering what happened. I don’t know.”
DeGeneres, who would meet her future wife, Portia de Rossi, that same year at a Rock the Vote concert, also admitted that experiencing a breakup from the receiving end was a new and unusual situation for her. She said, “[I]t was the first time I ever had my heart broken. I’d always been the one to leave relationships, and I had been in long-term relationships, and it was the one time I really believed this is forever.”
Ellen DeGeneres’ Response to Anne Heche’s Death Raised Eyebrows
In August 2022, the entertainment world mourned the tragic passing of Anne Heche, who died as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident in Los Angeles. The actor had been hospitalized after the crash, slipped into a coma, and her family ultimately made the heart-wrenching decision to remove life support. Naturally, there was an expectation for a response from Heche’s former partner, Ellen DeGeneres. However, DeGeneres’ initial comment left some feeling that she had been distant and unemotional.
A friend of Heche’s criticized DeGeneres, stating, “It was absolutely shocking for Ellen to be that cold.” When a photographer asked DeGeneres about Heche’s condition shortly after the accident, her response was, “We’re not in touch with each other, so I wouldn’t know.” The comedian, who reportedly had not communicated with her ex since their breakup at the turn of the century, added, “I don’t want anyone to be hurt.”
DeGeneres’ response remained minimal even after the devastating news of Heche’s death. Her only comment on the tragedy came via Twitter: “This is a sad day. I’m sending Anne’s children, family, and friends all of my love.”
Marital Struggles That Led Portia de Rossi to Rehab
In 2014, reports surfaced that Portia de Rossi had entered the Passages Malibu rehab facility for a 30-day substance abuse treatment program. According to certain sources, her decision to seek professional help was triggered by a heated argument with her wife, Ellen DeGeneres.
An anonymous insider shared with In Touch (via the Daily Mail), “They got into an ugly fight. Portia hadn’t been happy for a while and was drinking and isolating [herself], and Ellen confronted her. Portia lost it and blamed Ellen for driving her to drink because of her controlling ways and said she wasn’t in love with her anymore. Ellen was crushed and screamed at Portia to get out.”
Despite the claims, neither DeGeneres nor de Rossi publicly addressed the situation. Another source told the same publication that the comedian had been supportive, visiting her spouse at the rehab facility every weekend. However, later that year, Page Six reported that the couple canceled their appearance at an animal charity event at the last minute after another dispute during the journey there.