Former teen singer discovered by Ellen says he’s 'never met someone more manipulative' than her

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By Asiya Ali

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Greyson Chance has said that he’s "never met someone more manipulative" than Ellen DeGeneres after she signed him to her record label.

The 25-year-old former teen star first found viral fame when he was just 12 years old after a video of him performing Lady Gaga's 'Paparazzi' in front of his friends landed him on the 64-year-old's now-defunct talk show back in 2010.

After appearing on her daytime talk show, DeGeneres introduced Chance to industry executives, and later signed him to her record label - all within the same year.

Now, in an exclusive interview with Rolling Stone magazine published on Thursday, September 22, the 'Unfriend You' singer reflected on his career and claimed that things got frosty between him and the host.

Watch Chance's first interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show below:

Chance told the magazine that he and his family "couldn’t believe what was happening" and was "unsure of what we were getting into," when DeGeneres decided to become present in his professional life.

The musician claimed that when the pair first met, the comedian said to him: "I’m going to protect you. I’m going to be here for you. We’re going to do this together."

Soon after, DeGeneres co-created eleveneleven - a record label distributed by Interscope Geffen A&M Records - and signed Chance as her first act. She set him up with high-profile managers, a publicist, a booking agent, and a brand agent.

In October 2010, the 'Shut Up' singer released a mini EP and revealed that the glitz of superstardom quickly withered away once DeGeneres took hold of his career

As his touring schedule became more demanding, Chance claimed that DeGeneres "became domineering and way too controlling" and would make decisions for him down to his stage outfits.

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DeGeneres and Chance in 2010. Credit: Youtube.

Chance disclosed that one incident that developed was over Justin Bieber's 2011 documentary Never Say Never. DeGeneres received an advanced copy and advised the singer to watch it so he could study Bieber's work ethic.

When the one-time viral sensation didn't watch right away, he claimed that DeGeneres criticized his mother Lisa Chance over the phone, and said: "What type of mother are you?"

He claims that the talk show host expressed disappointment in regards to the documentary issue and soon realized that he was a "pawn" to her.

Chance also alleged to the publication that the TV host "completely abandoned" him and stopped taking his calls after his first EP underperformed in 2012. That year, he was released by his label and team.

While he went on to release his music independently and made sporadic appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show until 2019, Chance said DeGeneres acted cold towards him off-camera.

"I’ve never met someone more manipulative, more self-centered, and more blatantly opportunistic than her," he told the publication.

The singer's allegations come two years after DeGeneres was accused of leading a toxic work environment at her show. The accusations were addressed by the host in a monologue during which she apologized to the "people who were affected".

Meanwhile, Chance released his album Palladium on Thursday (September 22), and wrote on his Instagram that the project "forced me to look dead in the eyes of my past, and reconcile with everything I went through as a kid".

"I feel a tremendous weight off of my shoulders now that the truth is out," he added.

Rolling Stone adds in the article that "through a rep, DeGeneres declined to comment on Rolling Stone’s detailed list of questions about Chance’s allegations".

Featured image credit: MediaPunch Inc / Alamy