Ellen DeGeneres tests positive for Covid-19: Leslie Odom Jr and other guests who appeared on her show recently
'Ellen Show' host Ellen DeGeneres confirmed on Thursday that she had tested positive for coronavirus on Twitter. The host, who has had a tumultuous year after allegations about her talk show host workplace being toxic for employees surfaced, and most recently, the viewership of her show dropping as well, will now also pause production on her show. She wrote on Twitter, "Hi Everyone, I want to let you all know that I tested positive for Covid-19. Fortunately, I’m feeling fine right now. Anyone who has been in close contact with me has been notified, and I am following all proper CDC guidelines."
She also added, "I’ll see you all again after the holidays. Please stay healthy and safe." In the meantime, a spokesperson from Telepictures also confirmed to Variety that the production of 'Ellen Show' will be paused and possibly return only in January. However, this further hampers the show as it had only just begun to recover from the ratings slump that it had been in since the show returned in September with the signature yearly special called “12 Days of Giveaways”. In fact, the show's highest rating since May was recorded during the week ending November 29.
This then brings us to the guests who have been a part of the show and appeared in the studio, in the last couple of weeks and are in danger of contracting the virus. If we check the guests on the show since December 1, it includes stars such as Justin Bieber, Diane Keaton, Bryan Cranston and most recently 'Hamilton' star Leslie Odom Jr., all of whom had appeared personally in the studio to shoot for their segments on the show. There are also fans and others who had come in contact with DeGeneres who may also be in danger of contracting the virus.
Other guests such as Anya Taylor-Joy, Sarah Hyland, and Chance the Rapper appeared virtually on the show. 'Ellen Show' has been mired in controversy all of 2020 and when the show did kick start in September, DeGeneres had addressed all of it in her opening episode monologue.
She said, "As you may have heard, this summer there were allegations of a toxic work environment at our show and then there was an investigation." She also explained further, "I learned that things happened here that never should have happened. I take that very seriously and I want to say I am so sorry to the people that were affected. I know that I am in a position of privilege and power and with that comes responsibility and I take responsibility for what happens at my show."
Before this, DeGeneres had also written to the staff members of her show and reportedly explained in the internal memo, "On day one of our show, I told everyone in our first meeting that ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ would be a place of happiness — no one would ever raise their voice, and everyone would be treated with respect. Obviously, something changed, and I am disappointed to learn that this has not been the case.”