Ellen Degeneres reveals triple diagnosis, retires amid scandal
Two years ago, a scandal erupted around Ellen DeGeneres. Dozens of people described how horrible she was as a boss. Now, she has decided to address the scandal and officially retire from show business. In a Netflix special, she also revealed her diagnosis.
10:34 AM EDT, October 1, 2024
For several decades, Ellen DeGeneres entertained Americans and gained worldwide popularity as the host of her eponymous show. However, the funny Ellen had another, darker side that her collaborators eventually decided to expose. In 2020, accusations began to surface that she behaved toxically at work, bullied people, humiliated them, and, worse, did not pay them. The star of the popular talk show was accused of workplace harassment, and a special WarnerMedia committee investigated the matter. A decision was made to take the program off the air.
Ellen DeGeneres reveals triple diagnosis
In her latest Netflix special, "Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval," the American star announced her plans to leave show business and shared her personal health challenges. The 66-year-old comedian spoke openly about being diagnosed with osteoporosis, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and ADHD.
During her performance, she confided that she discovered osteoporosis after taking a "silly bone density test" on her doctor's recommendation. "I don’t even know how I’m standing up right now. I’m like a human sandcastle. I could disintegrate in the shower," she joked during her show.
Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens bone structure, increasing the risk of fractures. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, it affects one in five women over 50.
Ellen also spoke about her obsessive-compulsive disorder. The star admitted that she went to therapy due to difficulty coping with criticism that affected her after the scandal related to workplace harassment. In 2020, following accusations of abuse and inappropriate behavior by the show's producers, Ellen publicly apologized to her crew, and two years later, the show ended after 19 seasons.
The comedian added that she also suffers from ADHD, which makes it difficult for her to focus on a single task.
Ultimately, she stated with irony that the combination of osteoporosis, ADHD, and OCD makes her "well-suited" for life.
In her final appearance, DeGeneres also summarized her journey and admitted that she spent too much time worrying about what others thought of her over the years. She reflected that gaining perspective over time is one of the advantages of growing older, but in the end, she has stopped worrying about others' opinions.
