While some celebs might lay low when controversy strikes, Ellen DeGeneres took a different route.
The former daytime talk show host was recently spotted hand-in-hand with her wife, Portia de Rossi, casually strolling through London’s Bond Street—just hours after new allegations about her show’s toxic environment surfaced once again.
A Calm Stroll Through London… But Headlines Tell a Different Story
Ellen, now 67, looked relaxed and cheerful as she and Portia, 52, walked through one of London’s most upscale shopping areas.
Dressed in a navy cardigan, striped yellow polo, and white jeans, Ellen kept it casual and low-key with dark sunglasses and a luxury silver wristwatch.
Portia matched the vibe with a sharp white pinstriped blazer, cropped cargo pants, and sneakers.
Despite the headlines, the couple seemed unfazed.
Their outing comes as they approach their 17th wedding anniversary this August, and since moving to the UK full-time earlier this year, they’ve been embracing the quieter Cotswolds lifestyle far from the Hollywood spotlight.
Why Ellen and Portia Ditched the U.S.
The couple’s relocation to the UK wasn’t exactly spontaneous.
Ellen previously revealed that the move was triggered by Donald Trump’s presidency.
She explained that they initially planned to split time between the U.S. and their countryside home in the Cotswolds.
But after waking up to the news of Trump’s 2020 reelection, their plans changed overnight.
“We just decided, we’re staying here,” she recalled.
“We’re not going back. We are not leaving.”
Adam Carolla Spills Behind-the-Scenes Tea
While Ellen was out enjoying London, comedian and podcaster Adam Carolla was busy stirring things up.
In a podcast interview with conservative journalist Emily Jashinsky, Carolla revisited his two appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
His takeaway? The staff was “scared, real scared.”
Carolla described being warned—twice—not to mention meat or beef on the show.
At the time, Ellen was publicly vegan, though she’s since dropped the lifestyle.
The repeated instructions, he said, were delivered with such nervous energy that it made him feel the staff was walking on eggshells.
“I was like, oh, this guy’s scared to death,” he said.
“Worst Person I’ve Ever Met” — Carolla Shares Staffer’s Bold Claim
Carolla went further, recounting a private chat with someone who had written for Ellen’s show.
Though the person couldn’t be named due to an NDA, Carolla didn’t hold back.
“I just asked him, ‘How’s Ellen?’” he said. “He told me, ‘Worst person I’ve ever met.’ Not worst boss—worst person.”
The unnamed writer had also worked on Rosie O’Donnell’s show and still thought Ellen was worse, describing her as “the worst and the meanest.”
Carolla, who worked with Jimmy Kimmel on The Man Show in the early 2000s, said the writer’s words just confirmed what he’d suspected all along.
Public Perception Has Shifted Since 2020
These stories come on the heels of the now well-documented allegations made in 2020 by former employees of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, who described the workplace as toxic.
Ellen issued a public apology at the time, and after nearly 20 years on air, the show officially ended in 2022.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Ellen later reflected on the fallout: “It was obviously very, very difficult… but I just trust that that had to happen. I learned a lot.”
Still, as more behind-the-scenes stories trickle out, like Carolla’s, they continue to paint a less-than-flattering picture.
Carolla Admits He Wasn’t Targeted, But Noticed the Fear
Carolla clarified that Ellen was perfectly polite to him. “She’s not going to be mean to me,” he said.
“I was a guest. But the way her staff acted—that’s how I knew.”
While Ellen hasn’t publicly responded to Carolla’s claims, her calm appearance in London and her fresh start in the UK suggest she may be trying to move forward—whether or not the controversy follows her.