Ellen DeGeneres, the celebrated comedian and former talk-show host, has made her first public appearance in the UK since relocating last November. The 67-year-old revealed that her decision to settle in England was significantly influenced by the re-election of Donald Trump in 2020, marking a turning point in her life and career.
During a lively conversation at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham, DeGeneres shared her perspective on the political climate in the United States and her life in the UK. “Yes,” she said when asked if the decision to move was related to Trump’s re-election. “We got here the day before the election and woke up to lots of texts from our friends with crying emojis, and I was like, ‘He got in’. And we’re like, ‘We’re staying here’.”
Ellen and her wife, actress Portia de Rossi, initially planned to spend only part of the year in the UK, but the election results solidified their decision to settle permanently. “We thought it would be a part-time house,” Ellen continued. “But after that, we just said, ‘We’re staying here’.”
A New Beginning in the Cotswolds
Since moving to the picturesque Cotswolds, a region known for its charming villages and rolling countryside, DeGeneres has embraced a slower pace of life. She expressed her fondness for the area, highlighting the beauty of its towns and villages. “It’s clean. Everything here is just better – the way animals are treated, people are polite. I just love it here,” she shared with the audience.
Despite a chilly November move, DeGeneres found joy in simple pleasures, such as seeing snow for the first time. “Portia flew her horses here, and I have chickens, and we had sheep for about two weeks,” she added, revealing glimpses of her rural life through social media videos featuring her farm animals.
Reflecting on the Struggles of Being Gay in America
DeGeneres, who made headlines in the late 1990s for publicly coming out as gay, also discussed the challenges of being an LGBTQ+ figure in Hollywood. While much has changed since she broke barriers on national television, Ellen acknowledged that it remains a difficult decision for many to come out. “If it was [better], all these other people that are actors and actresses that I know they’re gay, they’d be out, but they’re not, because it’s still a problem,” she stated. “People are still scared.”
The comedian also addressed the ongoing efforts to reverse gay marriage rights in America. “The Baptist Church in America is trying to reverse gay marriage,” she said. “Portia and I are already looking into it, and if they do that, we’re going to get married here.”
A Toxic Workplace and Redemption
DeGeneres also reflected on the controversy surrounding her former daytime talk show, which was cancelled in 2022 after allegations of a toxic workplace culture surfaced. In her 2024 stand-up tour, she addressed the allegations head-on, acknowledging that she could be “blunt” but asserting that many of the stories were exaggerated. “It’s simple – I’m a direct person, and I’m very blunt, and I guess sometimes that means that… I’m mean?” she remarked.
She continued, adding that being labeled “mean” was particularly problematic for women. “How dare us have any kind of mood, or you can’t be anything other than nice and sweet and kind and submissive and complacent,” she said, expressing frustration with the double standards placed on women in the industry.
The Future of Ellen DeGeneres
Looking ahead, DeGeneres is uncertain about her next career move but said she would choose carefully. Despite her current rural bliss, she confessed that she is “a little bit bored” and eager to do something fun again. “I want to have fun, I want to do something,” she said. “I do like my chickens but I’m a little bit bored.”
As for returning to television, DeGeneres expressed interest in doing a British talk show. However, she acknowledged the changing landscape of media consumption. “I would love to do that again, but I just feel like people are watching on their phones, or people aren’t really paying attention as much to televisions,” she explained.
DeGeneres’ transition from one of the biggest names in US television to a quieter life in the UK signals a new chapter for the star, one where she can reflect on her past while looking forward to the future, all while navigating the complexities of fame, politics, and identity.
