UPDATE 2:44 P.M. PST: Not such a mean tweet after all!
So it turns out the context behind Ellen’s 2009 viral tweet does not appear to have been about making an employee cry because of cruelty but because of generosity.
The tweet was from June 5, 2009, and right after that the episode that aired showed the big tear-filled moment. The employee? The beloved Jeannie Klisiewicz, who was a fan Ellen hired the year before. The reason for the crying? Getting surprised with a cruise!
You can watch that whole segment (below)!
See, that’s the Ellen we all know and love! The one we saw on TV every day!
Was that really all a front while employees backstage were told not to look her in the eye? Did she change along the way?? What do YOU think??
The proof that Ellen DeGeneres has been a covert mean comic might have been under our noses this whole time!
While most of the daytime queen’s Twitter page is full of silly jokes, heartwarming memes, and content generally on brand with her Be Kind To One Another™ mantra, one tweet from over a decade ago is raising eyebrows due to how perfectly it matches up with some of the damning allegations that have recently come out about her talk show.
Related: Anne Heche Reflects On Her Time Dating Ellen Amid Toxic Workplace Scandal
On July 5, 2009, the Emmy winner wrote:
“I made one of my employees cry like a baby on today’s show. Honestly, it felt good.”
Yes, you read that correctly. That’s a real tweet from over a decade ago.
Uh… ha ha?
Although Ellen’s followers barely batted an eye over the tweet when it was shared, it’s gotten renewed attention due to the slew of allegations that have come out over the past few months from former and current staffers on The Ellen DeGeneres Show who claim that the Finding Dory star fostered a toxic work environment at the long-running daytime program.
Related: Ellen’s Brother Publicly Defends Her Reputation Calling The Accusations ‘Bulls**t’
Unsurprisingly, many Twitter users argued that the 2009 tweet proved Ellen had always been not-so-kind behind the scenes, writing comments like:
“It was here the whole time”
“bruh you been a demon since 2009 huh”
“This is not helping your case sis… delete”
“we got you on candid camera”
“U ON CANDID CAMERA NOW!!”
For those who don’t get the “candid camera” reference, Twitter users have co-opted a clip from the film Scary Movie featuring the brilliant Regina Hall for exposing someone online with receipts:
— Yarti (@ybleah) August 18, 2020
The resurfaced tweet comes a day after it was reported that three allegedly problematic producers Ellen — exec producers Ed Glavin and Kevin Leman and co-exec producer Jonathan Norman — had gotten the axe. As we reported, this news was relayed to staff in a video conference by DeGeneres herself, who also apparently announced that an “internal investigation into the workplace allegations” would take place in the near future.
According to BuzzFeed News sources, the remaining EPs promised the host “will be making rounds to smaller chats” with employees going forward, presumably to make sure they’re comfortable working on the show. But if Ellen truly is one of the sources of the toxicity, as this tweet would suggest, could the culture on her show really change for good?
Share your thoughts in the comments (below).
[Image via B. Roth/WENN]
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