Ellen DeGeneres Still Doesn’t Understand Why Her Show Was Called ‘Toxic’

The Emmy winner refuted claims she’d decided to end her talk show over allegations of workplace misconduct.

Ellen DeGeneres on Thursday addressed her sudden — if not entirely unexpected — decision to end her eponymous talk show after its upcoming 19th season, dismissing reports that the announcement was the result of fallout over last year’s bombshell accusations of workplace misconduct.  “If it was why I was quitting, I would have not come back this year,” she said on “Today.” “I really did think about not coming back, because it was devastating. I am a kind person. I am a person who likes to make people happy.” However, Nielsen data from March found “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” had lost more than 1 million viewers since the start of its 18th season, suggesting the blow to the host’s reputation would be permanent.