Ellen DeGeneres’ reaction has been brewing for some time.
We saw the first wave of disapproval after DeGeneres tried to rehabilitate George W. Bush’s public image, presenting his friendship as healthy, as if the Iraq war was nothing more than a problematic tweet.
Now, DeGeneres faces serious accusations of creating a horribly poisonous painting environment, with accusations of harassment, intimidation and unbridled sexual harassment at the scenes of Ellen DeGeneres’ show.
This follows a Variety article published in April that reported that program workers had not been informed of what would happen to their wages in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic.
DeGeneres’ remarkable motto, “Be Kind”, now has a bitter and ironic sound, as rumors of his alleged cruelty on set have surrounded DeGeneres for years.
Even former Finding Nemo co-star DeGeneres, Brad Garrett, tweeted, “I’m sorry, but it comes from the most sensible Array. He knows more than one who treated horribly through it.”
It is highly unlikely that he will know what DeGeneres’s real duty is to these disputes; not to mention that being an insufferable diva is not exactly a trait in the entertainment industry.
Hollywood is satisfied to tolerate monstrous behavior, as long as there are gains; remember all the disgusting stories surrounding Harvey Weinstein and the recent Hollywood Reporter article about Bryan Singer.
Perhaps if DeGeneres had not presented a symbol of compassion and empathy, he would never have been the target of such a dramatic reaction; the damaged illusion, the glimpse of the curtain, may well be what annoys its fans.
But the concept of an incredibly successful communication screen host, surrounded by flatterers, who has a gold center, might have been a mistake at first. I can’t think of a single communicative presenter who doesn’t share Ellen’s passive-aggressive behavior, the false hyperactivity and childish joy that the public finds comforting.
It is a hollow, natural and simple performance. And recently, the brilliant appearance of the celebrity has begun to detach, revealing an unpleasant truth.
Celebrities who complain about being confined to their mansions in their forties (and who are incredibly bored on social media) revealed how disconnected and privileged they were. Not to mention that constant reports of horrific behind-the-scenes behavior have completely eliminated the brilliance and glamour of the entertainment industry.
Celebrities, for the most part, have lost our blind admiration and earned our distrust. I think it’s a healthy progression: we see celebrities cynically and perceive that they don’t live the same truth as us.
Especially if your motto is “Be nice.”
I am fascinated by all the red tape of storytelling; movies, television, mythology, fairy tales and urban legends.