Comedian Adam Carolla has made startling new claims about the notoriously toxic environment behind Ellen DeGeneres’ former talk show.
The former Man Show host revealed on a podcast Tuesday that during his two guest appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the staff were “scared, real scared.” Speaking to conservative commentator Emily Jashinsky, Carolla shared two anecdotes as proof of the tense atmosphere.
He recalled how a page, clearly frightened, repeatedly warned him to avoid certain topics before going on air. “I was just sitting in my dressing room when the segment producer came in and said, ‘So we went over all the stuff we’re going to talk about… You’re not going to talk about meat or beef or anything like that, right?’” Carolla said. “I was like, ‘Oh, this guy’s scared to death.’”
At the time of his appearances—one in March 2012 and another on an undisclosed date—DeGeneres was a devout vegan, a lifestyle she has since abandoned.
Carolla also shared a second chilling account from a writer who signed an NDA but described Ellen as “the worst person I’ve ever met,” not just the worst boss, but the worst person altogether. This staffer had also worked for Rosie O’Donnell during the 1990s and insisted that Ellen was even worse.
Having co-hosted The Man Show with Jimmy Kimmel, Ellen’s former ABC colleague, Carolla highlighted the intensity of the alleged toxic behavior. He said, “She’s not a nice person at all,” adding that the public now “knows what I knew 15 years ago.”
The allegations against DeGeneres first surfaced in 2020, when former employees accused her show of fostering a toxic workplace, prompting an apology from the host. The show ultimately ended in 2022 after nearly two decades on air.
Carolla reflected on his experience with a mix of surprise and understanding: “I think I learned a lot, and there were some things that came up that I was shocked and surprised by. It was eye-opening, but I just trust that that had to happen.”
Despite the behind-the-scenes turmoil, Carolla said he never personally experienced rudeness from Ellen during their interactions. “She’s not going to be mean to me. I’m a guest on the show, right? So, I wouldn’t know it from my exchanges. I would know it with how her staff was cowering,” he explained.
As more stories about the former talk show host’s workplace behavior continue to emerge, Carolla’s revelations add to the growing narrative of a troubled production behind the scenes.
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