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Ellen DeGeneres said to be dismayed that accusations of ‘mean’ behaviour are ‘not a passing thing’

TV host reportedly thought the allegations were ‘sour grapes from a few haters’

Jacob Stolworthy
Thursday 14 May 2020 09:51 BST
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Dakota Johnson calls out Ellen DeGeneres for saying she wasn't invited to her birthday party

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Ellen DeGeneres is said to be dismayed by the the accusations of “mean” behind-the-scenes behaviour she has faced in recent months.

DeGeneres is yet to break her silence on the reports, but a source close to the host told UsWeekly that she is “at the end of her rope” that the allegations are “not a passing thing”.

Rumours of DeGeneres’ alleged unpleasant behaviour began to circulate after people claiming to be her ex-employees came forward with their experiences with the host on social media.

These former TV workers made some eyebrow-raising accusations about their time working on The Ellen DeGeneres Show after comedian Kevin T Porter told Twitter he would donate $2 to a food bank in Los Angeles for every one his followers repeated about the host, whom he branded “notoriously one of the meanest people alive”.

One story claimed that DeGeneres would send her staff home if they had failed to chew gum before speaking to her.

“She has a ‘sensitive nose’ so everyone must chew gum from a bowl outside her office before talking to her and if she thinks you smell that day you have to go home and shower,” one tweeter wrote.

Another added: “A new staff member was told ‘every day she picks someone different to really hate. It’s not your fault, just suck it up for the day and she’ll be mean to someone else the next day.’ They didn’t believe it but it ended up being entirely true.”

The source said: “She thought this was all just sour grapes from a few haters. But it’s not a passing thing – the hits just keep coming.”

Earlier this month, Tom Majercak – a bodyguard who was hired to protect DeGeneres and her family at the Oscars in 2014 – criticised the host for being “kind of demeaning”.

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He said that he came forward with his story after the other accusations flooded in.

Ellen DeGeneres is said to be dismayed that accusations of ‘mean’ behaviour are ‘not a passing thing’
Ellen DeGeneres is said to be dismayed that accusations of ‘mean’ behaviour are ‘not a passing thing’ (Rex Features)

“Ellen pretty much just gave me a side glance out of her eye and didn’t even say ‘hello,’ or ‘thank you for protecting my mother, my wife, and me,’” he said.

Majercak also said that celebrities had to be approved to come and talk to DeGeneres at her table during a high-profile after-party.

A representative for DeGeneres has been contacted for comment.

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