As someone who has grown up watching Ellen DeGeneres on television, it’s disheartening to see the controversy surrounding her workplace behavior and the alleged mistreatment of her staff. I fondly remember the groundbreaking moments she brought to our screens, like her character coming out as gay on her sitcom and her own public announcement. However, hearing stories from former employees about their experiences paints a starkly different picture.
After bidding farewell to my talk show three years ago and wrapping up filming nearly two years later, I’ve stepped into a new phase of retirement, as evidenced by the release of my stand-up special, “For Your Approval,” set to premiere on Netflix in mid-September. This could potentially mark the end of my televised stage performances, and for the sake of former staff members who have expressed concerns about my workplace conduct, I hope this is a sign of good things to come.
The Funniest Stand Up Comedy Specials On Netflix
Titled as a witty riposte amidst the deluge of unfavorable press that surfaced in 2020, Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval, as its title suggests, tackles the contentious period in Ellen’s career head-on, yet without admitting any wrongdoing for the accusations she faced. Previous staff members of her popular talk show, The Ellen Show, were vocal about their thoughts to Rolling Stone, expressing their surprise at witnessing their former employer addressing allegations of being unkind in front of such a vast audience.
It’s not surprising that the ex-employees chose to remain anonymous while speaking. One of them pointed out that the comedian’s intentions were clear even from the title of the special, suggesting:
It seems as though the intention might come across as manipulative. The title of your show, “For Your Approval,” could potentially make viewers feel guilty for not supporting you, while simultaneously giving off an impression that you’re trying to gain self-empowerment by suggesting you went through tough circumstances.
In a manner reminiscent of Louis C.K.’s 2020 and 2021 specials titled “Sincerely Louis C.K.” and “Sorry,” which were his comeback performances after allegations of sexual misconduct, DeGeneres discusses feelings of exclusion and cancellation, albeit without directly acknowledging the platform she used to convey this message to her dedicated audience. This theme was raised in a complaint by at least one staff member, who expressed concern about how she was addressing this topic with her loyal followers.
She made millions of dollars doing a Netflix special talking about how she got canceled, but by nature of making millions of dollars to do a Netflix special, you were not silenced. You were not kicked out of Hollywood. Most people can’t get Netflix specials.
During the course of the special, Ellen DeGeneres doesn’t solely dwell on the public criticism she previously referred to as “orchestrated.” Instead, she intersperses some seemingly unrelated humorous remarks. A significant portion of her act revolves around her journey through Hollywood and the challenges she faced while falling out of favor in pop culture, bringing up her genuine struggles in the industry.
She discusses her ABC sitcom, where a significant character came out as gay, marking a landmark moment in TV representation, and later, she too publicly revealed her sexuality. This event was inspiring for many within the LGBTQ+ community, including those in entertainment. However, some who worked with her earlier question if she can equate her experiences to those who bravely spoke out against the show’s host. As one individual remarked:
As a gamer, I find it intriguing how she fails to comprehend that her harsh behavior impacts others, while her identity as a lesbian is not a choice but a part of who she is. Instead of viewing her struggles through the lens of self, she sees them as stemming either from her strength as a woman or her sexuality. It’s baffling that she refuses to acknowledge that her actions have consequences.
Though she might not directly apologize for her rumored actions backstage at The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and some viewers might find the lighthearted discussion of these issues in her stand-up special uncomfortable, the knowledge that she plans to retire after this special could be welcomed news by many who have lodged complaints about it.
Indeed, some ex-employees have hinted to Rolling Stone that they are skeptical about Ellen DeGeneres genuinely intending to retire, but we can only speculate as to whether this scenario actually unfolds.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-09-30 20:07