Ellen DeGeneres returned to the studio today for the 18th season of her award-winning show. Unsurprisingly, she took the opportunity to address accusations against the program directly.
She presented in front of a virtual audience because of continuing COVID restrictions. Several former members of the production team told Buzzfeed earlier in the summer of a supposed toxic work environment.
Others were unhappy about the pay cuts they were forced to take when the studio recordings were canceled because of COVID. In an opening monologue, published on YouTube ahead of the show’s transmission today, DeGeners begins by saying, ‘If you’re watching because you love me, thank you.