During her talk show’s season premiere on Monday, Ellen DeGeneres directly addresses the allegations of a toxic work environment that plagued her show over the summer.
In a clip of the episode posted on social media, DeGeneres, 62, wastes no time getting to the scandal during her monologue, admitting that she’s a “work in progress” but promising viewers that she is really is “that person that you see on TV.”
“As you may have heard this summer, there were allegations of a toxic work environment at our show and then there was an investigation. I learned that things happened here that never should’ve happened,” she says. “I take that very seriously, and I want to say I’m so sorry to the people who were affected.”
The “Finding Dory” star recognizes how her celebrity has elevated her to a position of “power” and says she should’ve been more aware of what was going on behind the scenes.
“I know that I’m in a position of privilege and power, and I realize that with that comes with responsibility, and I take responsibility for what happens at my show,” she continues. “This is ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show,’ I am Ellen DeGeneres.”
DeGeneres alludes to the firings of top producers Ed Glavin, Kevin Leman and Jonathan Norman.
“We have had a lot of conversations over the last few weeks about the show, our workplace and what we want for the future,” she shares. “We have made the necessary changes and today we are starting a new chapter.”
She also addresses her “be kind” reputation, advising her viewers not to choose the nickname as a reputation if they can avoid it. While she maintains that she really is “kind,” she also says she feels other emotions, too.
“The truth is I am that person that you see on TV. I am also a lot of other things,” she says. “Sometimes I get sad, I get mad, I get anxious, I get frustrated, I get impatient, and I am working on all of that.
“I am a work in progress. I am especially working on the impatience thing, and it’s not going well because it’s not happening fast enough, I will tell you that,” she jokes.
DeGeneres says that while she’s a “pretty good actress” — having played a “straight woman in movies” — she jokes she isn’t good enough to “fool” everyone every day for 17 years.
“This is me, and my intention is to always be the best person I can be,” she says. “If I ever let someone down, if I ever hurt their feelings, I am so sorry for that. If that’s ever the case, I let myself down and I hurt myself as well.”
She ends her monologue on an optimistic note, saying she hopes her show can still serve as a one-hour distraction.
“My hope is that we can still be a place of happiness and joy,” she says. “I’m committed to making this the best season that we have ever had.”