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Ellen Degeneres responded to accusations of mistreating staff and employees with an apology – but it didn’t seem as sincere as many fans had hoped.
The 62-year-old comedian and talkshow host has faced allegations of toxicity, racism, sexual harassment, and misconduct from several former workers since July. She apologized in her show’s opening monologue last week, but then made some jokes that many aren’t taking lightly.
Degeneres sarcastically said, “How was everybody’s summer? Good, yeah? Mine was great. Super terrific. Let me give you some advice out there if anybody's thinking of changing their title or giving yourself a nickname, do not go with the 'be kind' lady. Don’t do it.”
Though the celeb has built her career upon her comedy, this joke seemed inappropriate at the time.
Former employees of Degerenes responded to her joke, sharing how offended they felt by it.
“Not only did Ellen turn my trauma, turn our traumas, into a joke, she somehow managed to make this about her,” a former employee told Buzzfeed News.
Despite her ill-timed joke, Degeneres was sure to make her apology heard. She said on her show, “I learned that things happened here that never should have happened. I take that very seriously and I want to say I am so sorry to the people who were affected. I know that I'm in a position of privilege and power and I realized that with that comes responsibility, and I take responsibility for what happens at my show.”
