Ellen DeGeneres Reflects on Controversies in Final Comedy Special

Ellen DeGeneres, renowned for her role as a daytime talk show host, has released her latest stand-up special, titled Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval. The special, now available on streaming platforms, serves as a blend of humor, sincerity, and reflection on her career and personal challenges. “I’m here because I love doing stand-up, and I miss doing stand-up,” DeGeneres shares, expressing her enduring passion for comedy and the joy of making people happy.

In 2020, DeGeneres faced significant controversy surrounding her eponymous talk show, including allegations about the show’s environment. Although she has clarified that these controversies did not prompt her departure, they influenced public perception. In her comedic style, DeGeneres acknowledges her public persona, saying, “Here’s the problem: I’m a comedian who got a talk show, and I ended the show every day by saying, ‘Be kind to one another.'” She humorously adds, “Had I ended my show by saying, ‘Go [profanity] yourselves,’ people would have been pleasantly surprised to find out I’m kind.”

The special also revisits a significant moment from her career when DeGeneres came out as gay on the cover of Time magazine years ago. She humorously narrates her experiences, saying, “I got kicked out of show business. Yeah, because I’m mean. You can’t be mean and be in show business. They’ll kick you out. No mean people in show business,” further adding, “Eventually they’re going to kick me out a third time for being old—mean, old, and gay, the triple crown.”

The production of For Your Approval was a collaborative effort involving producer Ben Winston of Fulwell 73 Productions, DeGeneres, and her wife, Portia de Rossi. Directed by Joel Gallen, known for his work on Chris Rock‘s 2023 special, this stand-up is part of a lucrative deal that began with 2018’s Relatable, DeGeneres’ first special in 15 years.

Concluding her act, DeGeneres acknowledges a newfound sense of happiness, not as a brand or a boss but as a liberated individual. The audience responds with standing ovations as she declares, “I’m so glad I got to say goodbye on my terms.” The special stands as a testament to Ellen DeGeneres’ enduring impact in the world of comedy and entertainment.