“I want to say I am so sorry to the people that were affected.”
Ellen DeGeneres has addressed the allegations that her television show was a toxic workplace, and that some employees faced racial discrimination and intimidation while working on the show.
In the opening monologue on the first episode of Season 18 of her show, Ellen apologised and said that she takes responsibility for what happened.
She started by jokingly saying: “How was everybody’s summer? Good? Mine was great. Super terrific.”
She continued: “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 have happened.
“I take that every seriously and I want to say I am so sorry to the people that were affected. I know that I am in a position of privilege and power and with that comes responsibility and I take responsibility for what happens at my show.
“I’m committed to making this the beat season that we have ever had.”
Take a look at a clip of Ellen’s comments here:
Today we’re starting a new chapter. pic.twitter.com/PvpZXnXLv5
— Ellen DeGeneres (@EllenDeGeneres) September 21, 2020
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge