Get All Access for $5/mo

Ellen DeGeneres to Leave Talk Show After 19 Seasons: 'I'm So Proud of What This Show Stood For' The talk show host revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that her show's upcoming season will be its last.

By Emily Rella

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Randy Holmes | Getty Images

It looks like the end of the road for the Ellen Degeneres Show.

DeGeneres told The Hollywood Reporter that the show's upcoming 19th season will be its last.

"19 years is a long time to do anything," she said.

The Hollywood Reporter revealed that the "Ellen" show staff was informed on Tuesday, May 11 of the show's cancellation.

DeGeneres maintains that the show is ending because "as fun as it is, it's just not a challenge anymore," though the fall out of her show's ratings and reputation following a major scandal last year made the eventual cancellation almost seem inevitable.

A bombshell report by Buzzfeed this past July with 10 former "Ellen" show employees claimed DeGeneres fostered a "toxic" workplace, with accusations of racism, harassment and bullying being fired at the talk show host.

Still, DeGeneres claims that the investigation has nothing to do with the cancellation of her show.

"It destroyed me, honestly. I'd be lying if I said it didn't," she told The Hollywood Reporter. "It almost impacted the show. It was very hurtful to me. I mean, very. But if I was quitting the show because of that, I wouldn't have come back this season."

The talk show, which has been on air since 2003, saw a harrowing loss of over one million viewers last season following DeGeneres' public apology regarding the accusations against her.

"If I never do anything else ever again, I'm so proud of what this show stood for and still stands for and what we've made it through," she said.

DeGeneres will sit down for a formal interview with Oprah Winfrey on "Ellen" on Thursday, May 13.

The TODAY show's Savannah Guthrie also confirmed that DeGeneres will join her for a separate exclusive interview set to air on the 13th.

Related: Ellen DeGeneres Is the New-Era Example Business Leaders Can Learn From

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Starting a Business

He Started a Business That Surpassed $100 Million in Under 3 Years: 'Consistent Revenue Right Out of the Gate'

Ryan Close, founder and CEO of Bartesian, had run a few small businesses on the side — but none of them excited him as much as the idea for a home cocktail machine.

Franchise

The Top 10 Coffee Franchises in 2024

From a classic cup of joe to a creamy latte, grab your favorite mug and get ready to brew up success with the best coffee franchises.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business News

'Jaw-Dropping Performance in 2024,' Says a Senior Analyst as Nvidia Reports Earnings

Nvidia reported its highly-anticipated third-quarter earnings on Wednesday.

Marketing

How Small Businesses Can Leverage Dark Social to Drive Word-of-Mouth Marketing

Dark social accounts for 70% of social media shares and is crucial for small businesses. Here's how you can tap into this hidden marketing opportunity.

Business News

'Do You Sell Cars?': Tesla CEO Elon Musk Trolls Jaguar Rebrand on X

The team running Jaguar's X account was working hard on social media this week.