Sad Things About Ellen DeGeneres’ Personal Life
Ellen DeGeneres is one of the most famous and beloved talk show hosts in the world, but her personal life has not always been a source of joy. The comedian and actress has faced many challenges and tragedies throughout her life, from sexual abuse and addiction to career setbacks and controversies. Here are some of the sad things about Ellen DeGeneres’ personal life that you may not know.
- **She was sexually abused by her stepfather as a teenager.** DeGeneres revealed in a 2005 interview with Allure magazine (via CBS News) that her stepfather sexually assaulted her when she was 15 or 16 years old, after her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. He told her that he had felt a lump in her mother’s breast and needed to feel hers to compare. He also tried to break into her room at night. DeGeneres said she did not tell her mother at the time because she did not want to hurt her. She eventually confided in her when she was 19, but her mother did not believe her and stayed with her stepfather for another 18 years.
- **She struggled with addiction and depression after coming out.** DeGeneres made history in 1997 when she came out as gay on the cover of Time magazine and on her sitcom, Ellen. However, the backlash was severe: she received death threats, hate mail, and lost sponsors and viewers. Her show was canceled in 1998, and she entered a period of isolation and despair. She told People magazine in 2016 that she turned to alcohol and marijuana to cope with the pain. She also suffered from depression and anxiety, which she later addressed with therapy and medication.
- **She lost her girlfriend in a car accident.** DeGeneres had her first serious relationship with a woman named Kat Perkoff when she was 20 years old. They lived together in New Orleans, but their relationship was tumultuous and they often broke up and reconciled. One night in 1980, after a fight, Perkoff left their apartment and got into a fatal car crash. DeGeneres was devastated by the loss and blamed herself for not stopping her. She told Oprah Winfrey in 2005 that Perkoff’s death was “the end of [her] life” at the time.
- **She faced criticism for befriending George W. Bush.** DeGeneres sparked controversy in 2019 when she was seen sitting next to former President George W. Bush at a Dallas Cowboys game. Many people criticized her for being friendly with someone who had opposed same-sex marriage and supported the Iraq War, among other policies that harmed marginalized communities. DeGeneres defended herself on her show, saying that she was friends with many people who had different views from hers, and that she believed in kindness and respect.
- **She dealt with allegations of a toxic workplace culture on her show.** In 2020, DeGeneres faced one of the biggest scandals of her career when several former and current employees of The Ellen DeGeneres Show accused her of creating a hostile work environment where racism, sexual harassment, bullying, and intimidation were rampant. Some also claimed that DeGeneres was rude, cold, and hypocritical behind the scenes, contradicting her image as a generous and compassionate person. DeGeneres apologized to her staff and promised to make changes, but the damage was done: her ratings plummeted, her reputation suffered, and many celebrities distanced themselves from her.
These are some of the sad things about Ellen DeGeneres’ personal life that show that fame and fortune do not guarantee happiness or peace. Despite these hardships, DeGeneres has also shown resilience and courage in overcoming them and continuing to pursue her passion for comedy and entertainment.
