Ellen DeGeneres said she was backstage at “Ellen” when she learned she had been infected with the novel coronavirus.

What’s going on?

DeGeneres returned to “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” this week, and revealed how she found out she had been infected with the coronavirus.

  • “Obviously there are a lot of negative things going on, so I wanted to talk about something positive: my COVID test,” said DeGeneres.
Related
Former ‘Ellen’ show employees say they experienced racism and a toxic work environment
Ellen DeGeneres says ‘we’re gonna talk about’ toxic workplace allegations when show returns to the air

She said she was backstage in hair and makeup when her assistant told her about her diagnosis.

  • “And then everyone around me ran away. It’s funny, people just really get scared. They ran and some have not come back since,” she joked, according to USA Today.
  • She said she “left the studio immediately.”

What happened to ‘Ellen’

DeGeneres tested positive for COVID-19 back in the middle of December 2020. She said she was “feeling fine” despite the diagnosis, as the Deseret News reported. At the time, a spokesperson for Telepictures said production of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” will be stopped until January because of the holiday break, according to Variety.

Related
Ellen DeGeneres apologizes to employees as her show is investigated for ‘toxic’ work environment
‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ is being investigated over the treatment of its employees. Here’s what we know
View Comments

DeGeneres faced heavy criticism in 2020 because she allegedly had a toxic work environment on set with her employees, according to the Deseret News. DeGeneres later apologized over the matter.

  • “I learned that things happened here that never should have happened. I take that very seriously and I want to say I am so sorry to the people that were affected,” DeGeneres said on the show, according to CNN. “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.”
Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.