Ellen DeGeneres could have gone away. That’s it! After a massive scandal at her show revealed overwhelming issues of bullying and abuse, DeGeneres could have taken her ball and gone home. The show was canceled, her career was in shambles, and her reputation was ruined, but she’s got more money than most small countries! The actor and comedian could have disappeared from the public eye and probably made a comeback in a few years. However, you can’t stop a narcissist from doing what they think they should.
DeGeneres released a comedy special on Netflix where she stood proudly in front of a large auditorium of people and lamented that she was “canceled.” Setting aside the fact that being “canceled” would imply you don’t have any platform on which to perform, much less a special on one of the world’s most popular streaming services, Dustin noted how DeGeneres at least doesn’t pretend she’s something she isn’t. She doesn’t apologize and she doesn’t go all “woe is me.” What she does do is … emulate the joke of a fellow former talk show host.
I’ve not been shy about my love of tall, redheaded comedian Conan O’Brien on this site. The man is a comedy legend. Other comedians love Conan as much (if not more) than I do. It’s not just folks who were raised on him, either. Plenty of Conan’s contemporaries are often in awe of his talent. DeGeneres is a contemporary of Conan and appeared on his podcast, Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend, in 2019. O’Brien and Ellen discussed their forrays into the talk show world.
Conan’s time on late-night TV did not start with a bang. Many were apprehensive toward the new, gangly host. He reflected on the time, telling Ellen, “When I replaced Letterman, it was a train wreck for a while. I remember saying to my therapist, ‘Everyone hates me and wants me to go away,’ and he said that’s just a feeling. And I said, ‘No it’s the cover of USA Today.” Wham! That’s a solid joke and one pretty specific to Conan’s experience.
In Ellen’s recent stand-up special, an eerily similar joke is made. While discussing her “cancelation,” Ellen told the following joke. “I was in therapy dealing with all the hate. My therapist said, ‘Where do you get this idea that everyone hates you?’ I said, ‘New York Times, Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly.’” My feelings toward either person aside, that’s a stunningly similar joke.
People online (the most important people) have pointed out the similarities between the two jokes. Unless you live online, the whole thing could be easy to miss or ignore. DeGeneres appeared on Conan’s show five years ago. But, after you hear about it, it’s hard to let go.
It’s also worth noting that this scrutiny wouldn’t exist had she gone away quietly. Instead, she doubles down on being “tough and impatient and demanding,” while also reusing the joke of a peer. I won’t go as far as to say that she stole it. DeGeneres very likely absorbed the joke without realizing it. But the fact remains that it’s not like she retold a lame “street joke.” Not everyone has received mass criticism while hosting a talk show.
None of this would have happened had she simply taken her wealth and walked away. Instead, she’s opened herself up to more criticism and tarnished her brand even further.