'Insanely manipulative': Greyson Chance claims Ellen DeGeneres was opportunistic as a mentor
BURBANK, CALIFORNIA: Greyson Chance, popular singer and Ellen Degeneres' former protégée, lashed out at the TV personality in a recent interview. He claimed she is an "insanely manipulative person" and would often degrade her staff on the show.
In the interview with Rolling Stones, Chance said: "I hadn’t spoken to her in years. That’s so messed up, that you’re now showing the world as if we’re so tight, we’re so good. And behind the scenes, you are this insanely manipulative person.”
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Chance remembered how he became a part of The Ellen DeGeneres Show at the age of 12 when a viral video of him performing Lady Gaga’s 'Paparazzi' in front of his schoolmates landed him on DeGeneres’ now-defunct talk show in May 2010. Explaining how she would degrade her staff, Chance said: “She would come in and look at a rack, yell at stylists, berate people in front of me and say, ‘This is what you’re wearing on the show', she was just degrading to people.”
When the two first met, DeGeneres had told him, “I’m going to protect you. I’m going to be here for you. We’re going to do this together.” The 'Shut Up' singer said that although admits DeGeneres helped him in his initial career days, he owes her nothing for his upcoming album. “The first part of my career, I owe a lot of thanks to her and to that team, but the reason why I’m here today talking about an album, I owe f–king nothing to her because I was the one that had to pull myself up. She was nowhere to be found.” Praising Lady Gaga, Chance said, “She has been there for me in the ways that Ellen never was.”
The singer confessed that they both faked on the screens multiple times. “When I look at the interviews and I look at my eyes, I can see so much anxiety. I can just see so much PTSD because I’m there holding on for dear life going, ‘I need this TV gig.’ I was 100 percent faking it, and [I felt like] she [was] 100 percent faking it with me, too.” “Whenever I would come on the show, it was such a fake smile. She wouldn’t even ask, ‘How are you doing? How are you holding up?’ It was just like, ‘Here’s what we’re going to talk about. We’ll see you on there," he said. On stage, however, DeGeneres would say things like, “I’m just so proud of you."
The singer further claimed that when his album and ticket sales dropped in 2012, DeGeneres “completely removed” herself and “abandoned” him. He further added that he tried getting in touch with her but it was all futile. Though they fell out, Chance made periodic appearances on the show understanding the positive impact it could have on his career. He still described the set as “a place of active trauma."
Remembering a 2019 appearance on the show where DeGeneres “hugged” him during soundcheck, Chance told Rolling Stone, "Later, she asked, 'How have you been?’" And that just killed me inside because I was like, "What do you mean how have I f–king been? Where have you been?”
Chance went on to claim that in October 2010 when he released a mini extended play and his touring schedule became more demanding, DeGeneres “became domineering and way too controlling.” He also stated, “My whole week, my whole month, my whole year could change [with] one text message from her. That was horrible,” he alleged, adding that he quickly learned that DeGeneres’ opinions were the only ones that mattered."
The former host wanted him to watch Justin Bieber's documentary, 'Never say Never' because she wanted him to model his career after that of the mega-successful pop star. When Chance did not keep film watching as a priority, DeGeneres then called his mother, Lisa, and yelled at her. She said over the phone, “What type of mother are you?, disappointed isn’t even remotely what I’m feeling right now.” At that moment, Chance said he felt, “OK, I’m a pawn in your game.”
On the other hand, a source close to Degeneres told to PageSix, the TV host went above and beyond for the young musician, noting that sometimes careers just don’t take off. The insider also stated that Chance did not make any complaints before or immediately after the 2019 appearance on the show. They also claimed that it’s “convenient” he came out with these allegations around the time of the release of his latest album Palladium.