Ellen DeGeneres is taking a comedic approach to address her controversial fall from grace. In the trailer for her upcoming Netflix stand-up special, For Your Approval, Ellen tackles the backlash she faced after her talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, was criticized for a toxic workplace.
The trailer, released on Wednesday, features Ellen humorously reflecting on her well-known catchphrase, “Be Kind to One Another.” She jokingly suggests it should have been “Go F*** Yourselves” to surprise people with her kindness.
Ellen also discusses her struggle with self-esteem and her desire to make everyone happy, saying, “I thought, if I could make people happy, they’d like me. And if they like me, I’ll feel good about myself… And all I can say about that is, thank god for the money!”
This special marks Ellen’s major return to comedy since ending her talk show in May 2022 after 19 seasons. She had previously stated that the decision to end the show was due to a lack of challenge rather than the allegations of a toxic workplace.
Netflix has announced that For Your Approval will be Ellen’s final stand-up special. The comedian takes a personal and candid approach as she reflects on her career and reputation, addressing her departure from show business.
Despite the difficulties, Ellen’s new material indicates she is no longer seeking public approval.
Since stepping back from the limelight, Ellen has focused on her life with her wife, Portia de Rossi. She resumed touring this summer and has announced that she plans to retire from comedy after this special.
