Ellen DeGeneres Addresses Workplace Scandal in Season Premiere

Ellen DeGeneres premiered her show this morning where she addressed the allegations of a toxic work environment that plagued her show over the summer.

In a clip (below), the host gets straight to the point, 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 said. “I take that very seriously, and I want to say I’m so sorry to the people who were affected.”

“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 continued. “This is ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show,’ I am Ellen DeGeneres.”

She then alluded 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 said. “We have made the necessary changes and today we are starting a new chapter.”

“The truth is I am that person that you see on TV. I am also a lot of other things,” she said. “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 quipped.

Whatever you feel about Ellen, we’re so happy she’s back.