The comedian opens up about her move to the UK, her show’s end, and why she’s not planning to return to Hollywood anytime soon.
Ellen DeGeneres Says She Left the U.S. Over Trump’s Re-Election and Toxic Culture Allegations
What happened?
Ellen DeGeneres revealed she left the United States and moved to the UK after Donald Trump’s re-election. She also spoke publicly about the toxic workplace allegations that surrounded the end of her long-running talk show.
Who’s involved?
DeGeneres, her wife Portia de Rossi, and the broader conversation around LGBTQ+ rights, Hollywood culture, and political shifts in the U.S.
Why it matters:
DeGeneres was one of America’s most popular daytime TV hosts. Her decision to leave the U.S. highlights how politics, public image, and personal values can deeply affect public figures—even leading them to start over abroad.
A Surprise Move Abroad
Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi quietly moved to the UK in November, just before the last U.S. presidential election. Speaking at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham, England, DeGeneres said the move was originally supposed to be temporary.
“We got here the day before the election and woke up to lots of texts from our friends with crying emojis,” she said. “And I was like, ‘He got in,’ and we’re like, ‘We’re staying here.’”
She didn’t name Donald Trump directly, but the implication was clear — his re-election played a big role in their decision to stay.
CNN has reached out to both DeGeneres’ team and the White House for official comments.
Falling in Love with the UK
Since the move, DeGeneres says she and de Rossi have fully embraced their new life in the English countryside.
“It’s absolutely beautiful,” she told the crowd, according to BBC reports. “We’re just not used to seeing this kind of beauty. The villages, the towns, the architecture — everything is charming.”
She added that living in the UK felt simpler and more peaceful.
“It’s clean. Everything here is just better – the way animals are treated, people are polite. I just love it here.”
DeGeneres even joked about her new hobbies, sharing a video in May of herself riding a lawnmower on their property.
“We moved here in November, which was not the ideal time,” she said. “But I saw snow for the first time in my life. We love it here. Portia flew her horses over. I have chickens. We had sheep — for about two weeks.”
LGBTQ+ Rights Still a Concern
DeGeneres has long been outspoken on LGBTQ+ rights, and she’s concerned about political shifts in the U.S. She addressed recent efforts by conservative religious groups, such as the Southern Baptist Convention, to roll back same-sex marriage rights.
“The Baptist Church in America is trying to reverse gay marriage,” she said. “They’re trying to literally stop it from happening in the future and possibly reverse it.”
She added that if gay marriage were overturned in the U.S., she and de Rossi would marry again in the UK.
“Being gay in Hollywood is still a problem,” she said. “People are still scared.”
Speaking Out About Her Public Image
In 2022, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” ended after nearly 20 years. The final seasons were clouded by reports of a toxic work environment, which included claims from former employees about mistreatment and fear on set.
DeGeneres spoke directly about the way her reputation was affected, especially the widespread labeling of her as “mean.”
“No matter what, any article that came up, it was like, ‘She’s mean,’” she said. “And it’s like, how do I deal with this without sounding like a victim or ‘poor me’ or complaining? But I wanted to address it.”
She explained that she believes the label came from her blunt and direct style — not from a lack of empathy.
“It’s as simple as, I’m a direct person, and I’m very blunt, and I guess sometimes that means that… I’m mean?”
DeGeneres said she found it deeply hurtful that this perception stuck.
“I hate it. I hate that people think that I’m that because I know who I am and I know that I’m an empathetic, compassionate person.”
In 2023, she told fans she was “done” with show business after releasing a Netflix special and added that she felt like she had been “kicked out” of the industry.
What Comes Next for Ellen?
While Ellen hasn’t ruled out future projects entirely, she seems to be enjoying a quieter life away from the spotlight. With her wife, animals, and English estate, she appears focused on personal peace, not professional comeback.
Whether or not she ever returns to Hollywood, DeGeneres’ move and her recent comments reflect a major shift — not just in her life, but in how public figures are responding to political, cultural, and personal pressures.
Source: CNN — Ellen DeGeneres says Donald Trump is the reason she left the US
