Every celebrity has a persona. There’s Adam Sandler, known for his baggy basketball shorts and slapstick comedy. Emma Watson is a symbol of intelligence, poise, and compassion. For Ellen DeGeneres, comedian and former TV host, her defining trait is her compassion…at least, it used to be. According to many ex-employees, her positive demeanor ends the second the cameras stop filming. In May of 2021, Ellen announced the ending of her nearly nineteen year show due to a culmination of events that led to people to question the validity of her slogan, “be kind to one another.”
The numerous accounts of Ellen’s toxic behavior were hard for Hollywood to ignore, but after taking a two-year break from the spotlight, Ellen is currently on tour. During one of her performances, Ellen told the crowd: “I can be demanding and impatient and tough. I am a strong woman. I am many things, but I am not mean.”
“I am many things, but I am not mean.”
Ellen DeGeneres
In a recent Instagram post, Ellen continued to push back against claims of her misconduct. Her post announces her one last hurrah: her final comedy special will be released on Netflix later this year. In the caption, Ellen wrote: “Here we go! To answer the questions everyone is asking me – Yes, I’m going to talk about it. Yes, this is my last special. Yes, Portia is really that pretty in real life.”
We have yet to see how she will address everything in the special, but based on her past statements, it is possible that Ellen will not take accountability for her actions. Despite Ellen’s own takeaway from her career-altering scandal, there’s a whole lot that we can learn about identifying the signs of a toxic work environment.
What is a Toxic Work Environment?
Any environment that makes you feel unsafe, uncomfortable, or undervalued is a toxic workplace. There are some examples of an unhealthy workplace environment that are illegal, such as sexual harassment or discrimination, but there doesn’t have to be anything unlawful occurring at a workplace for it to be toxic. Other things to watch out for may include overbearing work conditions, psychological stress and discomfort, or being treated with a lack of respect.
What Made The Ellen Show a Toxic Workplace?
In any situation where you are negatively impacted, it’s important to consider the power imbalance. Not all of the allegations about the toxic environment were about Ellen specifically. For example, people came forward and shared their experiences facing microaggressions from top-tier executives. Compounded with reports on the mean behavior of Ellen herself, the unsafe work environment was caused by people abusing their influence over other employees.
Why Does it Matter?
It’s likely that you or someone you know has experienced a toxic workplace environment to some degree. In fact, according to a 2024 MIT Sloan Management Review study, toxic work cultures are the top reason that people are leaving their jobs. This is an issue that many of us have faced, so seeing the repercussions of an unhealthy workplace in the media is a great reminder that nobody deserves to put up with mistreatment. The brave people who spoke out about their experiences with Ellen show us that it’s possible to make a positive change. And the career repercussions that Ellen is facing show that the public does not accept this kind of behavior – after all, you can’t just brand yourself as a nice person without actually exhibiting compassion.
What's Your Reaction?
