American TV host, Ellen DeGeneres is reportedly set to end “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” after 19 seasons, amid accusations of condoning a toxic work environment, it has emerged.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter (THR), Ellen said she was moving on because the programme was “just not a challenge anymore”.
She added that she “has had enough and told her team that she’s done”, stressing;
It’s going to be really hard on the last day, but I also know it’s time, When you’re a creative person, you constantly need to be challenged – and as great as this show is, and as fun as it is, it’s just not a challenge anymore. I need something new to challenge me.
Additionally, a source, according to Entertainment Tonight, expressed that;
Ellen doesn’t feel any financial pressure to figure out her next move and wants to involve herself in work projects that make her happy and accomplished.
A second source told ET that staff of The Ellen DeGeneres Show were informed about the news on Tuesday.
DeGeneres is expected to sit down with longtime friend, Oprah Winfrey late Wednesday to discuss the decision.
The interview will air during Thursday’s episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, according to THR reports.
Ellen premiered on September 8, 2003, and over the course of its 18 seasons has won 61 Daytime Emmy Awards. According to Forbes’ Madeline Berg, who spoke with ET, DeGeneres makes an estimated $55 million a year as host of Ellen, and has an overall net worth of over $300 million.
In May 2019, DeGeneres signed a three-year deal to extend her program through 2022.
An insider also revealed that:
She’s promised one more season after this one and will exit at the end of the 2021/2022 season.
The new development comes as several former and current employees of The Ellen Show accused the 63-year-old host of ignoring “bullying” by executives.
The employees in question also accused the star of fostering a “toxic” work environment in general.
Ellen came out with an apology after it was announced that her show was subject to a probe by WarnerMedia which looked into ‘staff experiences on set’.
The host sent her staff a memo in which she wrote she was ‘taking steps… to correct‘ issues with her employees.
Read Also: ‘I Am So Sorry’ – Ellen DeGeneres Publicly Addresses Toxic Work Environment Allegations On Her Show For The First Time, Promises New Chapter
She expressed in the heartfelt message;
On day one of our show, I told everyone in our first meeting that The Ellen DeGeneres Show would be a place of happiness – no one would ever raise their voice, and everyone would be treated with respect. Obviously, something changed, and I am disappointed to learn that this has not been the case. And for that, I am sorry.
Ellen added;
As we’ve grown exponentially, I’ve not been able to stay on top of everything and relied on others to do their jobs as they knew I’d want them done. Clearly some didn’t. That will now change and I’m committed to ensuring this does not happen again.
A source told ET on Wednesday that while the allegations against DeGeneres were tough, she stayed because she wanted to honour her commitment to the show and her staff through the end of her contract.
DeGeneres also said in her new interview with The Hollywood Reporter that all the drama surrounding the show the past year is not the reason for her departure.
Reports say DeGeneres will still remain a part of the Warner Bros. fold, “having built a sprawling portfolio of unscripted shows there in recent years,” including Fox’s The Masked Dancer, NBC’s Ellen’s Game of Games and HBO Max’s Ellen’s Next Great Designer, along with Ellen Digital Ventures, which is responsible for more than 60 original series.
