Title: Ellen DeGeneres’ Comedy Special: A Desperate Attempt at Redemption or a Deeper Digging of Her Grave?
Ellen DeGeneres has long been known as the queen of daytime talk shows, reigning over millions of viewers with her lighthearted humor and warm demeanor.
However, four years after being exposed for creating a toxic workplace environment, Ellen decided it was time to re-enter the public eye with a new comedy special.
In what can only be described as a desperate plea for forgiveness, Ellen’s performance, rather than showcasing any humility or introspection, seems to have dug her grave even deeper. Let’s break down the failed attempt at redemption, from her forgettable jokes to the glaring absence of real accountability.
A Comedy Special That Missed the Mark
The first problem with Ellen’s new special is the material itself. Instead of tackling her past mistakes or offering something insightful, Ellen’s jokes come off as shallow, uninspired, and painfully boring.
A prime example of this is when she jokes about how “we all care what people think” but insists that it doesn’t matter unless you’re parallel parking in front of a crowded café.
The attempt at humor here was not only lackluster, but it also lacked depth. In fact, it was so surface-level that it could be considered offensive to anyone who was expecting more from a comedian of Ellen’s stature.
The comedy special had no real bite, and audiences were left with jokes that were not just forgettable but downright painful to sit through. The moments of humor are overshadowed by Ellen’s awkward attempts to re-engage her fans, making it clear that the special wasn’t about comedy, but about something far more self-serving.
The Elephant in the Room: Toxic Workplace Allegations
The most glaring issue with Ellen’s comedy special, however, was her failure to properly address the elephant in the room: the serious workplace allegations that plagued her career.
This special was her golden opportunity to acknowledge her past mistakes, to reflect on how her toxic management style impacted her employees, and perhaps—just perhaps—to show a little humility. Unfortunately, Ellen squandered this chance entirely.
Instead of offering a meaningful apology or taking responsibility for her actions, Ellen chose to embrace a victim mentality. She began the special by claiming that she had been “kicked out of show business” simply because she was “mean.”
But this wasn’t the reason why Ellen was publicly condemned. No, Ellen’s downfall was far more complex. Her workplace allegations weren’t just about her being mean.
It was about Ellen creating a hostile, toxic environment where employees were mistreated, bullied, and even fired for personal reasons such as taking medical leave after a suicide attempt. This was far beyond “mean.” Ellen’s behavior was tyrannical.
Rather than face these allegations head-on, Ellen chose to downplay them, opting instead to focus on trivial matters, like her rubber snake pranks.
While she does apologize for these pranks, admitting that they may have been cruel, the timing of this admission is questionable at best. Of all the controversies surrounding Ellen’s time as the host of her talk show, it’s truly bizarre that she would choose to apologize for such a minor incident instead of acknowledging the significant harm she caused to her employees.
The Absurdity of Blaming Gender and Sexuality
As the special goes on, Ellen tries to justify her actions by linking them to societal expectations of gender and sexuality. She claims that the backlash she faced was due to the fact that she’s a woman, implying that a male boss wouldn’t have been held to the same standard.
While it is true that women face unique challenges in professional environments, this line of reasoning is a poor excuse for the mistreatment of her employees.
Ellen’s argument, which seems to suggest that women are held to higher standards than men in the workplace, is not only flawed but dangerously self-serving.
The real issue wasn’t that Ellen was a woman; it was that she was an awful boss who allowed a culture of fear and abuse to fester under her watch. To suggest that her downfall was due to gender discrimination, rather than her own failures as a leader, is to completely miss the point.
The False Parallel with Her Discrimination for Being Gay
To make matters even worse, Ellen draws an absurd parallel between her past struggles as an openly gay woman in the entertainment industry and her present scandal.
She claims that the second time she was “kicked out of show business” was because of the backlash surrounding her toxic workplace behavior.
However, this comparison is completely misguided. While Ellen’s discrimination for being gay in the past was undoubtedly a tragic and unfair chapter in her life, it has little to do with the current situation.
Ellen’s issue now isn’t her sexuality—it’s her abuse of power, her lack of empathy, and her failure to protect the people who worked for her.
By framing the situation as a second round of discrimination, Ellen is deflecting the real issue and attempting to portray herself as a victim once again.
The Final Attempt to Relate to the Audience
Towards the end of the special, Ellen makes a final attempt to relate to her audience, revealing that she has been diagnosed with both OCD and ADHD.
She claims that her obsession with time—expressed through her insistence on being punctual—was a product of her mental health conditions.
While it’s not uncommon for public figures to share personal details about their struggles with mental health, Ellen’s attempt to downplay her past actions by using her diagnosis as a justification for her behavior feels insincere.
In one bizarre anecdote, Ellen shares a story about arriving early to Usher’s after-party following the Grammys and being forced to help the staff set up candles because of her OCD.
She goes so far as to claim she invoiced Usher $200 for the time spent helping with the setup. The whole story is more awkward than relatable, as Ellen tries to connect with her audience by invoking a scenario that most people will never experience—helping staff at a celebrity mansion after the Grammys.
A Missed Opportunity for Redemption
In the end, Ellen’s comedy special serves as a masterclass in deflection, self-pity, and the continued refusal to take responsibility for her actions.
Rather than showing any true remorse for her behavior, Ellen wrapped herself in the cloak of victimhood, blaming her gender, sexuality, and even her mental health for the consequences of her own actions. It’s evident that Ellen is far more concerned with preserving her image than with offering a sincere apology or seeking redemption.
At its core, this comedy special is not about forgiveness, but about an attempt to rewrite history and distract from the damage Ellen caused to her employees.
It’s a reminder that, despite her attempts at redemption, Ellen DeGeneres remains as out of touch with the reality of her actions as ever. While she may have built her career on relatability and kindness, this special only served to highlight just how far removed she is from the person she once portrayed herself to be.
The real tragedy, however, isn’t just that Ellen was mean—it’s that for so long, she convinced so many people that she wasn’t.
