Ellen DeGeneres retires, reveals triple diagnosis in Netflix special
Two years ago, a scandal erupted around Ellen DeGeneres. Dozens of people came forward to describe 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.
Ellen DeGeneres entertained Americans for several decades 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, bullying people, humiliating them, and—worse—not paying 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 not only announced her plans to leave show business but also shared with the audience 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 still standing. I'm like a human sandcastle. I could fall apart in the shower," she joked during her show.
Osteoporosis is a disease that leads to the weakening of 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 the age of 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 behaviour 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: "It's hard for me to concentrate. Do you know how hard it was for me to put together this performance?"
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 over the years worrying about what others thought of her. "With time, you gain perspective, and that's one of the benefits of aging. But ultimately, I no longer care what others think," she said in conclusion.
