Ellen DeGeneres faced "cancellation" primarily due to allegations of a toxic work environment on the set of her daytime talk show, which was reported by multiple employees in a Buzzfeed News article. These reports described mistreatment, intimidation, and a workplace culture that contradicted Ellen's public "be kind" persona. Although she apologized and her producers were fired, the controversy damaged her public image significantly. Her talk show ended in 2022 after 19 seasons, following these allegations. Ellen herself has joked about being "kicked out of show business" twice—first in the late 1990s after she came out as gay and her sitcom was canceled, and then again more recently after the workplace controversy. She later canceled several of her live tour shows in 2024, stating she was "finished" with public life, highlighting how the fallout had affected her career.
Additional context from discussions indicates that unlike some other harsh TV personalities who maintain shows despite being tough on people, Ellen's public persona was very much built around kindness, so the allegations felt like a bigger betrayal to the public. Also, factors such as the expectations placed on women in show business might have contributed to the magnitude of her cancellation.
In summary, Ellen was canceled due to workplace bullying and toxic culture allegations on her show, which countered her public image, leading to the end of her show and her stepping back from public life and touring.
