Ellen DeGeneres has revealed the exact date that fans are going to see her in showbusiness.
In 2020, the 66-year-old actor and host was accused of perpetuating a "toxic work environment" behind the scenes of her eponymous talk show, which debuted on September 8, 2003.
According to Variety, some employees alleged racism, sexual misconduct, and intimidation at the hands of executive producers. There were also allegations that several workers feared taking medical leave for risk of penalization, and faced retribution for raising complaints.
Amid the media storm, DeGeneres apologized at the time, saying: "I’m in a position of privilege and power and… I take responsibility for what happens at my show."
But the show never recovered from the scandal and ended its 19-year run in May 2022.
Now, DeGeneres has returned to the stage as a stand-up comedian as part of her Netflix Last Stand... Up Tour.
And it would appear that she is living up to the tour's name, revealing last month that she will be "done" with showbusiness once the tour has ended.
During the Q&A section of the show last month, one audience member asked DeGeneres if she would return to films after the tour concluded, or if she would like to do theater on Broadway.
“Um, no,” the comic responded, according to SFGate. "This is the last time you’re going to see me. After my Netflix special, I’m done."
Now, Degeneres has finally revealed the date that her tour comes to an end.
In a romantic Instagram post celebrating her wedding anniversary and wife Portia De Rossi, Degeneres wrote: "I will be celebrating my 16th wedding anniversary on the 16th of August in Minneapolis filming my final Netflix special. What a day!!!"
"I’m so lucky to be loved by the most amazing person I’ve ever met. I love you Portia. You’re my everything," she added.
So, given DeGeneres recent comments, it would appear that August 16 is the "last time" the public will see her in a celebrity capacity.
Only time will tell to see if she sticks to her word or support from fans can one day bring her back to the spotlight.
During her recent tour, DeGeneres has referenced her ousting from Hollywood, making several jokes about how she was treated following the 2020 allegations.
Speaking to an audience back in April, the comedian opened up about becoming “the most hated person in America” saying: “I got kicked out of show business. There’s no mean people in show business," as cited in The Guardian.
She said that the scandal reduced her television legacy, explaining: “The hate went on for a long time and I would try to avoid looking at the news...the ‘be kind’ girl wasn’t kind."
“I became this one-dimensional character who gave stuff away and danced up steps... Had I ended my show by saying ‘Go f**k yourself,’ people would’ve been pleasantly surprised," she continued.
Ellen then referenced the cancelation of her '90s eponymous sitcom following her coming out as gay - saying that she has now been canceled twice.
“For those of you keeping score, this is the second time I’ve been kicked out of show business… Eventually they’re going to kick me out for a third time because I’m mean, old, and gay," she said.
Despite joking about the tumultuous period, the host revealed that she “had a hard time” and “didn’t get out” amid the scandal and said she became “persona non grata” for the second time in her career - the first being when she publicly came out as gay in 1997.
“I’m making jokes about what happened to me, but it was devastating, really,” she said. “It took a long time for me to want to do anything again.”
DeGeneres explained that she “just hated the way the show ended," adding: "I love that show so much and I just hated that the last time people would see me is that way."
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