Former employees of Ellen DeGeneres’ daytime talk show have accused the television host of fostering a hostile and toxic workplace, citing allegations of discrimination against male staff. The claims have resurfaced as DeGeneres faces renewed criticism over her alleged toxic behavior on the long-running talk show. A former cameraman on ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ has accused DeGeneres of creating an environment where employees lived in fear, sometimes having to forgo family commitments due to the pressure of working on the set. DeGeneres, 67, is claimed to have disliked male employees and allegedly turned cold when they interacted with her wife, actress Portia de Rossi, 52. Crew members also recalled what insiders called the infamous ‘Ellen gaze,’ described as a look that left employees feeling terrified and on edge. One former staffer described the look as ‘a queen searching for her next execution,’ adding that ‘She was terrifying.’
De Rossi was described as ‘nice’ and approachable by the crew, but employees said their jobs felt at risk if DeGeneres saw them chatting with her spouse. According to one former staffer, ‘You just hoped and prayed you weren’t seated by her wife, so you didn’t get her attention.’ The former employee also alleged that DeGeneres once burned through nine stage managers in a single season, suggesting a high turnover rate that could be linked to the hostile work environment. Celebrity guests on the show also faced difficulties, with an insider claiming that chef Gordon Ramsay was banned from returning after a tense cooking segment where he embarrassed DeGeneres by commenting on the quality of the food she used during a demo. The former employee recounted the incident, stating that ‘He gave her some quip. They were doing a food test together, and Ellen offered him a sample first. As soon as he bit in, he said, “This is rubbish. This is disgusting.” She didn’t like the reaction. It was about eight seasons before he came back.’
These recent allegations have revived the backlash that previously hit DeGeneres in 2020, when several ex-employees accused the show of racism, intimidation, and retaliation. DeGeneres addressed these allegations on-air at the time, stating she had been unaware of the environment. The uproar led to an internal investigation, which found that current and former employees blamed three producers for creating a culture of fear. Warner Bros. stated at the time that it took the recent alleged workplace culture issues seriously, conducting interviews with staff to assess conditions. DeGeneres’ show, which aired for 19 seasons, ended in 2022. In her 2024 comedy special, ‘Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval,’ she addressed the allegations, claiming she was kicked out of show business for being mean. By 2025, DeGeneres had moved to the UK countryside, citing ‘misogynistic’ backlash following Donald Trump’s 2024 re-election. Representatives for DeGeneres did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment, leaving the allegations to continue to draw scrutiny and public attention.