Ellen Degeneres exits the spotlight, reveals personal struggles

Following the scandal she was embroiled in, Ellen DeGeneres decided to appear in front of the cameras one final time. She recorded a stand-up special for Netflix. In it, she revealed her diagnosis and discussed her decision to refrain from cosmetic enhancements.

Ellen DeGeneres is one of the most recognisable television personalities. While she is perhaps mainly known in the United States, many worldwide have likely seen humorous clips from her show, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," where she interviewed nearly every celebrity imaginable. The show's employees accused her of bullying. The wave of revelations was so significant that the network decided to cease production of the show.

The comedian decided to reconcile with her audience by offering them a Netflix special titled "Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval." The show begins with Ellen reflecting on her career journey—from her early performances to the spectacular downfall amid the bullying scandal. During the programme, DeGeneres shared several personal stories. The 66-year-old disclosed that she was diagnosed with osteoporosis, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

During her performance, she confided that she discovered she had osteoporosis after undergoing a "silly bone density test" at her doctor's suggestion. "I don’t even know how I’m standing up right now. I’m like a human sandcastle. I could disintegrate in the shower," she joked during her show.

In the programme, she also mentioned that she has given up on cosmetic surgery. "I used to say that I didn’t care what other people thought of me. I realize now, looking back, that I said that at the height of my popularity," Ellen confessed. "Hey, if I look older than when you saw me last it’s because I’m older than when you saw me last. And also I stopped doing Botox and filler."

"Just a waste of energy. We’re just guessing, we don’t know. It’s impossible to guess what people are thinking," she added.

In the finale of her programme, DeGeneres announced she was retiring from show business. Her talk show, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," ended after 19 series in 2022, partly due to the controversies surrounding allegations of a toxic work environment behind the scenes. The scandal erupted in 2020 when comedian Kevin T. Porter asked people on Twitter to share the craziest stories of how Ellen was unpleasant. Over the following months, the issue gained traction, leading to an internal investigation by WarnerMedia and the dismissal of three programme producers.

"This is the last time you're going to see me," DeGeneres declared during her performance. "After my Netflix special, I'm done."

Ellen also admitted that she has no plans to return to the industry, noting that after years of being "everyone's favourite star," she intends to enjoy life away from the spotlight.