For some fans, Ellen DeGeneres started throwing mixed signals long before the controversy came out to the public.
Fans have lots of examples from the past, whether it be questionable interviews alongside celebs like Zac Efron and Taylor Swift, to encounters that had us looking on uncomfortable, like Ellen alongside Dakota Johnson.
There was another questionable moment that took place outside the show. This was way back in the fall of 2019. Fans don't miss a thing, and they spotted Ellen alongside Portia, laughing it up with George W. Bush out of all people.
This was met with a bit of controversy, especially given that Ellen is a major part of the LGBTQ community.
She actually had to make a statement about the friendship.
"So Portia and I were invited by Charlotte Jones.”
"Here’s the thing. I’m friends with George Bush,” she said. “In fact, I’m friends with a lot of people who don’t share the same beliefs that I have.”
"But just because I don’t agree with someone on everything doesn’t mean that I’m not going to be friends with them,” she said. “When I say, ‘be kind to one another,’ I don’t only mean the people that think the same way that you do. I mean be kind to everyone.”
Fans took exception and as they always do, Twitter was the platform to voice their concerns.
Turns out, a few years later, fans are still tweeting about the moment. It is viewed as a major turning point in Ellen's big downfall.
Twitter Is Still Talking
Fans weren't into Ellen's statement and to this day, talk still exists on social media platforms like Twitter.
Fans agree with the tweet for the most part.
"I've been having an internal conflict over this myself, and I've never been sure what to do."
"Sometimes, kindness is removing someone's ability to speak so they can stop hurting people."
Some fans would also take issue with how the news story made headlines in the first place.
Looking back, it looks like more ammunition towards the "cancel Ellen" movement. Surely, if she could go back in time, maybe Ellen might've considered taking a different seat or perhaps, not looking so joyful.
Without a doubt, she learned a few lessons in the recent years.
Sources: Twitter, CNN & YouTube