Ellen DeGeneres Says She’s ‘Done’ After Netflix Special

Published: 5:20 AM PDT, July 10, 2024

Ellen DeGeneres is ready to say goodbye to the spotlight. The 66-year-old comedian told fans that she’s “done” with show business during last week’s stop on her Ellen’s Last Stand… Up comedy tour. 

DeGeneres previously said that her upcoming Netflix stand-up special will be her “last,” but further clarified that she’s done with performing entirely during a recent show in Santa Rosa, California. 

According to SF Gate, DeGeneres was asked whether she’ll appear on Broadway or in future films during the Q&A portion of her set. 

“Um, no,” DeGeneres replied. “This is the last time you’re going to see me. After my Netflix special, I’m done.” 

The outlet reports that another fan expressed a desire to see the star reprise her beloved role as Dory in another Finding Nemo sequel for Pixar. 

“No, I’m going bye-bye, remember?” DeGeneres quipped. 

The revelation came just before DeGeneres abruptly canceled a number of tour dates, with no reason given for the cancellations. 

DeGeneres launched her tour in June, returning to the stage after facing allegations of a toxic workplace environment on her talk show. The comic opened up about her “cancellation” and discussed her return to the stage  — and the public eye — two years after she ended her daytime talk show after 19 seasons. An eyewitness in the audience during her stop in San Diego, California, in June said the former TV host chatted about her life these days and those “mean” allegations that she said derailed her career. 

“I got kicked out of show business because I’m ‘mean’… You can’t be mean in show business, they’ll kick you out,” she joked, adding that at one point, she read a headline that called her the “most hated person in America.” Ever the comedian, DeGeneres quipped that while it didn’t feel good to read front-page fodder like that, it was doubly awful because it’s a title that holds no trophy or prize. 

A year after The Ellen DeGeneres Show came to an end, a source told ET about how the former host was keeping busy. “Ellen is not retired. She did not renew her show, but she has never not worked,” the source said. “Although she has taken some time off from acting, she has a number of brands, an upcoming documentary as part of her Discovery deal, etcetera, that she is working on.”

The source added, “Animal welfare is near and dear to Ellen and [wife Portia de Rossi]; they have donated a ton of money and do a lot of hands-on volunteer work to help animals.” 

DeGeneres’ current tour will be the basis for what will be her final Netflix stand-up special, six years after her last show, Relatable, dropped on the streaming platform. 

In a pre-released statement about the tour and the special, DeGeneres said, “To answer the questions everyone is asking me — yes, I’m going to talk about it. Yes this is my last special. Yes, Portia really is that pretty in real life.”

In December, DeGeneres celebrated her 19-year dating anniversary with de Rossi. The couple has been married more than 15 years after tying the knot in August 2008. 

DeGeneres’ Netflix special is expected to debut later this year. 

RELATED CONTENT: