Ellen DeGeneres announced during her “Ellen’s Last Stand…Up” tour that she plans to retire from fame after her final shows, which will be filmed for a new Netflix special.
During a Q&A at the Luther Burbank Center, one fan asked if DeGeneres would return to movies after the tour ended or perhaps try her hand at Broadway. “Um, no,” DeGeneres answered matter-of-factly. “This is the last time you’re going to see me. After my Netflix special, I’m done.”
Another fan asked if DeGeneres would reprise her role as Dory from Pixar’s “Finding Nemo” and “Finding Dory,” to which she replied, “No, I’m going bye-bye, remember.”
“Ellen’s Last Stand…Up” tour continues through August 17
The tour, which began earlier this year, saw DeGeneres addressing the misconduct allegations that arose as “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” ended its nearly 20-year run. Reports had surfaced detailing racism, sexual misconduct, and intimidation behind the scenes, and crew members expressed frustrations over compensation during the COVID pandemic. Following an internal investigation by WarnerMedia, three producers were fired, and DeGeneres issued an on-air apology.
At the Santa Rosa show, DeGeneres humorously recapped her recent experiences, saying, “I got chickens. Oh yeah, and I got kicked out of show business for being mean.” She acknowledged her demanding nature, stating, “I am many things, but I am not mean.”
Reflecting on the public backlash, DeGeneres said, “I used to say, ‘I don’t care what people say about me.’ Now I realize I said that during the height of my popularity.”
In a previous stop on the tour, DeGeneres shared her disappointment about how her show ended, describing it as “so hurtful.” She added, “I love that show so much and I just hated that the last time people would see me is that way.”
Ellen DeGeneres’ “Ellen’s Last Stand…Up” tour continues through August 17.