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The Messages Evil Ellen is Sending to Young Viewers
2020 has been an unkind year to most people, and no one knows that better than Ellen DeGeneres. In 2016, she was receiving the President Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama. By 2020, people were making charitable donations at the expense of her reputation.
Americans are no strangers to “cancel culture:” when public figures have all of their past actions and statements scrutinized to destroy their reputation. In the fights against racial injustice and sexual misconduct, many celebrities have been rightfully cancelled. Ellen, on the other hand, hasn’t been so heinous. Instead, her behaviors are akin to a Hollywood diva rather than a beacon of kindness. These behaviors are very contrary to the message preached by her talk show, but many of her actions occurred behind the scenes of that very show.
Of all the people in the world, Ellen was one of the last people I expected to fall from grace. Not because I am shocked that she’s temperamental, but because I thought everyone already knew. During her talk show, she’s often be making joke at the expense of guests or audience. Her gestures were thinly veiled attempts to capitalize on viral trends, and I was often under the impression she just wanted to buy happiness. Of course, this is fairly standard of daytime talkshows, but the accusations against Ellen were in line with my existing perception of her.
