Ellen DeGeneres, captured in a candid moment, declared during her “Ellen’s Last Stand…Up” tour that she will retreat from the limelight after her final performances, which are set to be featured in an upcoming Netflix special (via People and SFGate). During the Q&A segment at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa, a fan queried whether DeGeneres would return to acting or perhaps take on Broadway after her tour concludes.
“Um, no,” DeGeneres replied bluntly. “This is the last time you’re going to see me. After my Netflix special, I’m done.”
When another fan encouraged her to reprise her role as Dory from Pixar’s “Finding Nemo” and “Finding Dory,” DeGeneres retorted: “No, I’m going bye-bye, remember.”
Ellen DeGeneres kicked off her farewell tour earlier this year but recently canceled four scheduled dates. Throughout her shows, she has addressed the misconduct allegations that surfaced as “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” approached its finale after nearly 20 years.
The talk show concluded amidst numerous reports of alleged racism, sexual misconduct, and intimidation behind the scenes. Additionally, crew members expressed frustration with the production’s handling of compensation during the COVID-19 pandemic, as reported by Variety. DeGeneres issued a public apology on air, and three producers were dismissed following an internal investigation by WarnerMedia.
“Let me catch you up on what’s been going on with me since you last saw me,” DeGeneres remarked at the Santa Rosa show before quipping, “I got chickens. Oh yeah, and I got kicked out of show business for being mean.”
She candidly admitted to being “demanding and impatient and tough,” asserting, “I am a strong woman. I am many things, but I am not mean,” emphasizing that her intentions were never to intentionally harm anyone.
“I used to say, ‘I don’t care what people say about me.’ Now I realize I said that during the height of my popularity,” DeGeneres reflected on the public backlash from the allegations.
During a previous tour stop at the Largo at the Coronet Theater in West Hollywood, DeGeneres responded to a fan’s question, expressing how “so hurtful” it was for her show to end the way it did.
“I just thought, ‘Well this is not the way I wanted to end my career, but this is the way it’s ending.’ … I just hated the way the show ended,” she lamented. “I love that show so much and I just hated that the last time people would see me is that way.”
The “Ellen’s Last Stand…Up” tour continues through August 17.
