Is it too Late to Save the Ellen DeGeneres Brand?

Ellen DeGeneres is one of America’s biggest celebrities. She is the host of the long-time running TV show that also bears her name, The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Aside from hosting, Ellen is also a comedian, writer, producer, animal rights activist, and actress. She was born in 1978 in Louisiana to an insurance agent father and speech therapist mother who soon after her birth divorced. Her mother re-married and Ellen experience abuse from her stepfather. She is married to fellow actress Portia de Rossi.

Quick Rise to Fame

Ellen started her career in comedy early. She was performing stand-up comedy in bars, parties, and small clubs. At 23, she was already hosting comedy shows in New Orleans. She soon started touring the country with her comedy shows. And in 1984, Showtime TV named her Funniest Person in America.

Her first television appearance was a sitcom guesting in 1989. She started writing, producing, and hosting TV shows in 1994. In 2000, the first of the Ellen shows was first aired. Ellen went back to stand-up in 2018, in a Netflix show, Relatable.           

The Ellen DeGeneres High

Television was the platform of Ellen’s success. She received an Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series. She started The Ellen Show in 2001. But it was The Ellen DeGeneres Show that catapulted the comedian to celebrity heights. Launched in 2003, it lasted 19 seasons and will run until 2022. Awards, recognition, choice projects, and big money followed her show’s success. She was awarded a total of 30 Emmys and 20 People’s Choice Award trophies. She was accorded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016 and the Carol Burnett Award in 2020.

Ellen starred in the highly successful Disney/Pixar animated film Nemo and the lead role in its sequel Dory. From the launch of The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2003 until 2020, Ellen was considered the most successful person on television. She also married her wife, actress Portia de Rossi, in 2008.

Crash and Fall

Ellen created a bubbly, kind, and happy TV persona, and people loved her for it. She is known for giving gifts, helping the needy, and championing animal rights. However, in the early months of 2020, negative rumours about her true personality started to leak. Staffers, crews, and celebrity guests to her talk show claim of a very toxic environment. The work environment of her TV show was the exact opposite of the slogan – “Be kind to one another.” What goes on behind the camera is the opposite of what you see on TV. The controversy extended to her household where housekeepers and staff reveal a tale of abuse and unjust employment.

Bullying, verbal abuse, and covert racism are just some of the issues thrown at the comedian. Talk show guests and crew are routinely subjected to Ellen’s cruel jokes and rudeness. Many crew members have since left the show.

The accusations have prompted Ellen to release a statement. On a taped statement, she acknowledged the issues, promised to conduct an investigation, and apologised for the actions. Although she said the right words, people agree that it lacked sincerity.

The Ellen DeGeneres Brand

Shortly after the controversies were made public, Ellen’s popularity plummeted. Her show lost its sparkle, views, and following. It trudged on its eighteenth season, blaming the COVID-19 pandemic for its faltering numbers. Then Ellen announced on ending the show after its nineteenth season.

Ellen cannot bank on strong talents. Her celebrity persona was built on kindness and a happy personality. Those are the exact opposite of what people claim to be the real Ellen off-camera. When her branding was crushed, there is nothing else she can offer the public. Her show segments include gift- giving and entertaining people. It all turned sour and insincere with all the talk about bullying and abuse. Can Ellen bounce back from such a devastating crash? No more shows, no projects, and no engagements. The once golden girl of television has become a pariah. And unless she proves all her detractors and rumours wrong, Ellen is just another fallen star.