Ellen DeGeneres, the beloved comedian and former talk show host, has announced that she and her family are leaving the United States. This move comes on the heels of her recent retirement from show business, marking a significant new chapter in her life.
DeGeneres’s decision to retire was made public when she announced that her Netflix special, filmed in August 2024, would be her last professional project. This announcement coincided with her 16th wedding anniversary to Portia de Rossi, a moment she described as ‘lucky and special.’
DeGeneres’s rise to fame was meteoric, thanks to her 19-season run on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. However, the show ended in 2022 following allegations of a toxic workplace environment, including claims of harassment and discrimination. Although DeGeneres herself wasn’t accused of misconduct, the scandal significantly impacted her reputation.
In recent months, DeGeneres has returned to the spotlight with her farewell stand-up tour. Reflecting on her career’s ups and downs, she joked about being “kicked out” of show business twice, adding that she’s mean, old, and gay. Despite the humor, she acknowledged the personal toll of the scandal, describing it as ‘devastating’ and noting that it left a significant impact on her self-esteem.
DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, have also made major personal changes, relocating to the United Kingdom. According to reports, the move was motivated by the reelection of former President Donald Trump. The couple purchased a home in the Cotswolds, roughly two hours from London, and seems to be embracing a quieter life away from the extremes of fame.
As DeGeneres embarks on this new chapter, she may finally find the opportunity to heal from the challenges of recent years. With her signature humor, she joked in her Netflix special, “The ‘Be kind’ girl wasn’t kind… Had I ended my show by saying, ‘Go f*** yourselves,’ people would have been pleasantly surprised to find out I’m kind.”
