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Ellen DeGeneres raised quite a few eyebrows on Sunday night while accepting an award for best daytime talk show at the People’s Choice Awards. The comedian and host thanked her staff in her acceptance speech, causing a stir as the show has come under fire over the last year for its toxic work environment, as well as a slew of sexual misconduct allegations that bubbled to the surface among the producers.
DeGeneres took the stage to accept the award in-person, calling out both fans and staff alike for standing by her as she navigated the allegations. She said, “I am not only accepting this award for myself, I’m accepting it on behalf of my amazing crew, my staff who make the show possible. They show up every single day, they give 100% of themselves, 100% of the time...I love them all and I thank them for what they do every single day to help that show be the best that we try to make it every single day.”
While the comedian has been beloved by fans over the years, the allegations marring the show have made their mark, with ratings for this season down from the last as viewers navigate the truth. DeGeneres has been vocal about the issues, expressing her intent to change and better herself and the workplace.
In the season 18 premiere in September, Ellen began the episode by airing out the rumors. She said, “As you may have heard, this summer there were accusations of a toxic work environment at our show, and then there was an investigation. 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.”
The allegations were initially released in two pieces published by Buzzfeed News, and in July, Ellen sent out a memo apologizing to her staff and claiming that she will do her part to foster a positive and respectful work environment moving forward.
Although it has been a tumultuous year for DeGeneres, it seems she’s still doing something right if she was able to pick up a People’s Choice Award. Actions speak louder than words, so we’ll see if any real change comes to pass!
