Ellen DeGeneres ending talk show in 2022 after year of brutal headlines
The 'Ellen DeGeneres Show' is currently in its 18th season
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Ellen DeGeneres announced she is ending her talk show.
The comedian told the Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday that she will end the long-running "Ellen DeGeneres Show" in 2022.
"When you’re a creative person, you constantly need to be challenged – and as great as this show is, and as fun as it is, it’s just not a challenge anymore," she told the outlet.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}DeGeneres said she informed staff of the decision on May 11 and will sit down with Oprah Winfrey to discuss her show ending on her May 13 show.
DeGeneres' show is currently in its 18th season. (NBC)
The "Ellen DeGeneres Show" is currently in its 18th season and will end after Season 19.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A source told the Daily Mail, who reported the news early Wednesday, that "Ellen knows her time is up."
"'The show has bled viewers since the toxic environment around Ellen and her show was made public," the source added.
DeGeneres’ daytime talk show had dropped dramatically in viewership following the star's toxic workplace scandal that dominated headlines last year.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Per Nielsen's ratings in March, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" lost over 1 million viewers over the course of the show’s current season.
According to Nielsen, the Season 18 premiere had the highest ratings of any season opener in the last four years for "Ellen." However, over the last six months, the show has averaged 1.5 million viewers.
The program’s latest season kicked off in September 2020 with an apology from the comedian about claims of a toxic workplace that marred the show over the summer.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}ELLEN DEGENERES' BODYGUARD AT 2014 OSCARS BACKS UP NOT-SO-NICE ALLEGATIONS: 'SHE'S COLD'
'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' has come under fire for its toxic workplace in the past year. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
"I learned that things happen here that never should have happened," DeGeneres said on the show at the time. "I take that very seriously. And I want to say I am so sorry to the people who were affected."
She added: "This is 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show.' I am Ellen DeGeneres. My name is there, my name is there, my name is on underwear," the host joked. "We have had a lot of conversations over the last few weeks about the show, our workplace and what we want for the future. We have made the necessary changes and today we are starting a new chapter."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}In August 2020, Fox News learned three producers of the talk show were ousted after a number of employees voiced sexual misconduct claims.
"Ellen" staff was given the news during a virtual meeting on Monday, which was led by the 62-year-old comedian, sources told Fox News at the time.
Degeneres has had countless high-profile guests on her show including A-list celebrities and former presidents. (Getty)
The hostess herself has also been accused in recent months of poor behavior toward some guests and lesser-known celebrities.
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In April 2020, crew members of her namesake talk show leaked details about the television host's lack of support amid the coronavirus pandemic, including claims she left employees in the dark about the status of their jobs and pay. A major beauty influencer who appeared on her talk show in January also claimed DeGeneres was particularly "cold" and gave preferential treatment to A-list guests.
The following month, a former bodyguard who was assigned to protect DeGeneres during her hosting gig at the 2014 Oscars told us the star was "very cold."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"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,'" Tom Majercak alleged.
DeGeneres apologized in September saying, 'I learned that things happen here that never should have happened.' (Getty)
In her September apology, DeGeneres addressed the accusations that she is much different on-air than in person despite her pledge to "be kind."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The phrase "be kind" was initially brought up by the host in 2010 to bring awareness to Tyler Clementi, who committed suicide as a teenager after he was bullied for being gay.
"There were also articles in the press and on social media that said that I am not who I appeared to be on TV because I became known as the ‘be kind’ lady. And here's how that happened: I started saying, ‘Be kind to one another’ after a young man named Tyler Clementi took his own life after being bullied for being gay," DeGeneres said.
She added: "I thought the world needed more kindness and it was a reminder that we all needed that, and I think we need it more than ever right now."
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"Being known as the ‘be kind’ lady is a tricky position to be in. So let me give you some advice out there if anybody's thinking of changing their title or giving yourself a nickname, do not go with the ‘be kind’ lady. Don't do it," DeGeneres jokingly added.