Ellen DeGeneres ‘loses a million viewers’ following her toxic workplace scandal that led to firings

Ellen DeGeneres has lost more than a million viewers in the wake of her toxic workplace scandal that made headlines last year.

DeGeneres’s daytime talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, has declined 43 percent in its current season, according to a new report from The New York Times, citing Nielsen numbers.

The show, since its season premiere in September, has garnered an average of 1.5 million viewers – down 1.1 million from the same time-frame a year ago, which had 2.6 million average viewers, prior to complaints of a toxic workplace from staff on the show that led to an internal probe from Warner Bros.

DeGeneres, 63, who is married to Portia De Rossi, 48, got off to a strong ratings start last fall in her 18th season season premiere when she addressed the scandal, but has seen a swift decline in the months since.

‘I learned that things happen here that never should have happened,’ she said in her season premiere. ‘I take that very seriously. And I want to say I am so sorry to the people who were affected. 

‘I know that I’m in a position of privilege and power, and I realize that with that comes responsibility. I take responsibility for what happens at my show.’

In the September broadcast, DeGeneres acknowledged she was working toward improvement amid the spate of complaints about the hostile workplace she presided over. 

‘This is me and my intention is to always be the best person I can be, and if I’ve ever let someone down, if I’ve ever hurt their feelings, I am so sorry for that,’ she said. ‘If that’s ever the case, I’ve let myself down and I’ve hurt myself as well because I always try to grow as a person.

‘I look at everything that comes into my life as an opportunity to learn. I got into this business to make people laugh and feel good, that’s my favorite thing to do.’

The show has also fallen 38 percent in its key demographic in adult women under 54, Nielsen reported. It’s behind daytime talk competitors including Dr. Phil, which has averaged 3.1 million viewers; and Live: With Kelly and Ryan, with 2.7 million.

With its 1.5 million average, Ellen’s numbers have dipped closer to shows such as Maury Povich with 1.4 million, Kelly Clarkson with 1.3 million, Rachael Ray with 1.2 million and Tamron Hall with 1.1 million.

The ratings decline in the wake of the scandal has also had a negative impact on advertising revenues, as its taken in $105 million for the current period in contrast to $131 million, according to Kantar, marking about a 20 percent decline.

Telepictures exec David McGuire told the newspaper that ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show remains one of the top three highest-rated syndicated talk shows this season’ and will forge forward.

‘While broadcast is down across the board and Covid has been challenging for production, we are looking forward to bringing back our live audiences and a 19th season filled with all of the hilarious and heartwarming moments that have made Ellen one of the longest running and most successful talk shows in history,’ McGuire said.