The 5 Shocking Reasons Ellen DeGeneres Left America And Her New Life In The UK

The question "What happened to Ellen DeGeneres?" has taken on a dramatically new meaning in the last year. Once the undisputed queen of daytime television, the comedian has undergone a seismic shift in both her public life and personal residence. As of December 2025, DeGeneres is no longer living in the United States, having made a major, politically-motivated move overseas, all while recalibrating her career after the catastrophic fallout from the "toxic workplace" allegations that ended her 19-year talk show run.

The journey from Hollywood icon to international expatriate has been as controversial as it is surprising. From addressing her "mean" reputation in a new stand-up special to settling into a quiet life in the English countryside, this is the definitive, up-to-date look at where Ellen DeGeneres is now and the factors that led to her departure from the American spotlight.

Ellen DeGeneres: A Quick Biography Profile

Ellen Lee DeGeneres is an American comedian, television host, actress, writer, and producer whose career spans several decades, marked by groundbreaking moments and recent controversy.

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• Full Name: Ellen Lee DeGeneres
• Date of Birth: January 26, 1958
• Place of Birth: Metairie, Louisiana, USA
• Spouse: Portia de Rossi (married 2008)
• Key Career Highlights:
  • Stand-Up Comedy: Began in the early 1980s, leading to a memorable appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1986.
  • Sitcom Star: Gained widespread fame on the sitcom Ellen (1994–1998). In 1997, she famously came out as gay, a historic moment in television history.
  • Daytime Icon: Hosted The Ellen DeGeneres Show from 2003 to 2022, winning numerous Emmy Awards and becoming a cultural fixture known for her "Be Kind" motto.
  • Film Roles: Voice of Dory in the Pixar films Finding Nemo (2003) and Finding Dory (2016).
• Philanthropy: A vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and animal conservation, notably through the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.

The Downfall: Toxic Workplace Allegations and The Show's End

The biggest catalyst for DeGeneres’s career shift was the massive scandal that erupted in 2020. The clean, kind-hearted persona she had cultivated for nearly two decades was publicly shattered by a series of allegations from former and current staff members of The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

A Culture of Fear and Mistreatment

The controversy began with reports of a "toxic work environment" on the set. Buzzfeed News published a major story in July 2020, detailing accusations of racism, fear, and intimidation among employees. Specific claims included staff being fired after taking medical leave, being told not to speak to Ellen on set, and facing microaggressions.

The scandal was compounded by public accusations from celebrities, including reports regarding her alleged mistreatment of guests like Mariah Carey and allegations from a waitress. The backlash was swift and brutal, leading to a significant drop in the show’s ratings and a massive erosion of public trust in the "Be Kind" brand.

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Warner Bros. launched an internal investigation, which resulted in the departure of three top executive producers. DeGeneres herself offered an on-air apology, but the damage was done. In May 2021, she announced the show would end after its 19th season, with the final episode airing in May 2022.

Where Is Ellen Now? Her New Life in the Cotswolds and Career Pivot

Since the end of her talk show, DeGeneres has largely stepped out of the Hollywood spotlight, focusing on her personal life, real estate investments, and a surprising return to her roots: stand-up comedy.

1. The Shocking Move to England

Perhaps the most significant news about DeGeneres in late 2024 was her reported move out of the United States. Following the results of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, reportedly left their California properties and relocated to the English countryside.

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The couple settled in the Cotswolds, a picturesque area in south-central England known for its charming villages and affluent residents. The move was widely reported as a direct response to the political climate in the US, with DeGeneres revealing the motivation behind her departure.

Interestingly, this new chapter has not been without its own drama. Reports have surfaced that the couple’s initial £20 million farmhouse purchase has faced challenges, and some sources even claimed the pair found the quiet country life "boring" after only a year, potentially signaling a further move or a return to the US.

2. Embracing the 'Mean' Persona in Stand-Up

In a major career pivot, DeGeneres has returned to her stand-up comedy roots, a move that directly addresses the public controversy. Her new material, featured in a recent stand-up set (as of September 2024), tackles the allegations head-on.

She openly discussed feeling "kicked out of show business" for being perceived as "mean," a stark contrast to the kind image she projected for decades. This new comedic approach sees DeGeneres leaning into her "toxic persona," attempting to reclaim her narrative by satirizing the very accusations that led to her downfall.

This stand-up set is reportedly part of a new, highly anticipated Netflix project. This move is a strategic attempt to bypass the traditional network television environment that became a liability and connect directly with a global streaming audience.

3. Focusing on Environmental and Conservation Work

Away from the glare of Hollywood, DeGeneres has devoted more time to her passion for animal conservation. She and Portia de Rossi are heavily involved with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. In 2022, they opened the state-of-the-art Ellen DeGeneres Campus in Rwanda, a permanent home for the fund dedicated to saving gorillas.

This work was the subject of her 2023 Discovery Channel documentary, Saving the Gorillas: Ellen’s Next Chapter, which provided a glimpse into her life post-talk show and highlighted her commitment to environmental causes.

4. New Media Ventures and Retirement Plans

In addition to the Netflix stand-up special, DeGeneres has also launched a new YouTube series, signaling a shift toward digital-first content that offers more creative control and a less restrictive environment than network television.

However, the comedian has also hinted that her comeback may be short-lived. In recent public statements, DeGeneres suggested she is "done" with show business after the upcoming Netflix project, indicating a potential final bow before a full retirement from public life. This suggests that her new life in the Cotswolds may be exactly what she envisioned: a quiet, permanent retreat.

The story of Ellen DeGeneres is a cautionary tale of a celebrity brand that imploded under the weight of its own perceived perfection. Her current status—an expatriate comedian living in the Cotswolds, addressing her 'mean' reputation on Netflix, and dedicating herself to gorillas in Rwanda—is a fascinating, complex, and ultimately unique second act.