Ellen DeGeneres was once one of the most beloved people in Hollywood. Her playful, witty, and funny personality brought viewers in every day to her daytime talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Ellen's reign soon came crashing down in 2020 after staff members and guests on her show revealed their negative experiences with her off-screen.
Several accusations were made regarding her unpleasant personality with former employees even blaming her for creating a hostile work environment. Some guests on her show spoke out about her unwelcoming behavior off-screen. While most of this bad behavior happened off-screen, some of her talk show episodes were found to be cringe-worthy. Here is a list of ten awkward interviews from The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
10 NikkiTutorials
After NikkiTutorials (also known as Nikkie de Jager) came out as transgender on her YouTube channel, Ellen invited her on her talk show. While the interview seemed fine at the moment, Nikki felt awkward during the interview, reported CheatSheet. The YouTube star revealed in an interview with De Wereld Draait Door, the talk show host was "less than kind." Not only did she not get her own bathroom, but she was also met by an angry intern. On top of that, Ellen didn't even say hello to her before the interview.
9 Taylor Swift
In 2013, Taylor Swift appeared on Ellen's talk show and asked her about the last time she was there with Zac Efron. They were both in the film The Lorax at the time. Ellen referred to Zac as Taylor's boyfriend. Taylor quickly corrected Ellen, claiming they are not together, to which Ellen ignores and continues to refer to Zac as her boyfriend. Later on, Ellen tries to get answers about who "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" is about. She proceeds to pull up several different celebrities she has been linked to on the screen, asking Taylor to ring the bell in her hand when it’s about them.
8 Michelle Obama
The former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, appeared on an episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show where she and the host went to CVS together. Even though Michelle smiled and giggled through Ellen's hijinks, it was evident she grew increasingly irritated with the host wrote Insider.
Ellen opened unpaid-for products, a box of wine, and even tried to sign a sleeping baby's forehead. By the end of the segment, Michelle clearly had enough of Ellen and her unprofessional attitude.
7 Katy Perry
In 2017, Katy Perry appeared on the talk show where she was set to play a game called "Will you Perry me?" Katy was distressed by the thought of having to get married again. Ellen clearly did not remember Katy's 2012 marriage to comedian Russell Brand, as she asked her, "you were married?" The singer confirmed adding that Ellen gave her a wedding gift on a past episode of the show.
6 Dakota Johnson
The downfall of Ellen really began after her infamous awkward interview with Dakota Johnson in November 2018. Ellen asked the actress why she was not invited to her birthday party the month prior. Dakota was visibly annoyed and stood her ground. "Actually no that’s not the truth, Ellen, you were invited," the actress answered back, adding that Ellen was upset when she did not invite her last year. Things got even more awkward when the talk show host added it always nice to be invited, to which the actress replied, "I didn't even know you liked me."
5 Justin Bieber
Almost six years ago, paparazzi photos of Justin Bieber in the nude on vacation were released, and Ellen could not help herself but bring them up. She even brought attention to the woman figure laying down, asking him if she was his girlfriend.
Justin denied they were a couple, blushing at the same time. Ellen did not like his answer and kept berating him with questions about the mystery woman. Justin wanted Ellen to stop asking him questions regarding the woman, but she did not care.
4 Martha Stewart
When Martha Stewart appeared on the talk show in 2016 alongside Snoop Dog and Anna Kendrick, Ellen played a game of "Never Have I Ever" with the guest. When asked if one of them had ever "sexted," Martha held up her paddle to confirm she has. Ellen was shocked and could not believe she has "sexted" before. Martha responded by saying, "I have used technology for a lot longer than you have, Ellen." The 63-year-old tried to Martha and these other guests to reveal who they sent their messages to. Martha looked behind her paddle and said, "It doesn't say, 'None of your business.'"
3 Hasan Minhaj
When Hasan Minhaj spoke with Ellen in 2019, the interview seemed to be going great at first. Things started to take a turn when Ellen kept pronouncing his name wrong, despite her claiming what a huge fan she was of him. After she messed up the pronunciation of his last name, Hasan responded with, "No." Instead of asking Hasan how to properly say his name, Ellen just said, "Yes."
2 Nicole Kidman/Giada De Laurentiis
During a cooking segment with Giada De Laurentiis and Nicole Kidman in 2017, Giada taught Ellen and Nicole how to make her recipe for risotto balls. The interview took a turn when Giada referred to the actress as "the woman who can't cook." After that comment was made, there was tension throughout the segment. Once the food was done, Nicole took a bit and called the risotto balls "a little tough." Ellen proceeded to spend the rest of the segment eating the premade food and failing to listen to Giada. She was also making jokes at both of her guests' expense.
1 Céline Dion
Back in 2007, during an interview with Céline Dion, Ellen asked the singer why she hasn't cut her son's hair yet. The host even pulled up a picture of Céline's son sporting his long locks. The singer defending her son asking Ellen if she "a problem with that?” After Ellen kept going on about her son, Céline said how people would then complain if she decided to shave his head. She ended the conversation saying her son makes his hair decisions, so she'll cut it when he's ready.