Ellen DeGeneres has canceled four shows from her 32-date comeback tour, “Ellen’s Last Stand… Up,” without offering a public explanation. The canceled performances were scheduled for Dallas, Texas (July 10), San Francisco, California (July 21), Seattle, Washington (July 23), and Chicago, Illinois (August 11).
Ticketmaster informed ticket holders of the cancellations via email on Wednesday, July 3, stating, “Unfortunately, the Event Organizer has had to cancel your event. Refunds will be issued to the original method of payment used at the time of purchase.”
This development comes amid DeGeneres’ return to stand-up comedy after her daytime talk show ended in 2022 following allegations of a toxic workplace environment. The controversy started in March 2020 when comedian Kevin T. Porter invited people on Twitter to share their “most insane stories you’ve heard about Ellen being mean,” which garnered 2,600 responses. Subsequently, a BuzzFeed News exposé published in July 2020 featured accounts from former employees alleging racism, workplace bullying, and sexual harassment on the set of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”
DeGeneres, 66, addressed these allegations in her initial stand-up performances on this tour. At her show in Santa Rosa, California, she humorously remarked, “I got chickens. Oh yeah, and I got kicked out of show business for being mean.” She added, “I used to say, I don’t care what people say about me. Now I realize I said that during the height of my popularity.”
Despite the cancellations, DeGeneres’ tour will continue in other major North American cities. Scheduled performances in cities such as Austin, Texas; Boston, Massachusetts; Washington, D.C.; and Denver, Colorado, remain unaffected. DeGeneres is also set to release a final Netflix special before the end of the year, following her 2018 special “Relatable.”
Gabe Lehman, an editor for the SF Gate, reviewed DeGeneres’ show in Santa Rosa, noting her candidness about the allegations and her efforts to move past them. “DeGeneres doesn’t shy away from addressing the controversies that led to her show’s end,” Lehman wrote. “She balances humor with introspection, making it clear she never intended to hurt anyone.”
DeGeneres’ tour was announced in May as a 27-date North American tour produced by Live Nation. It marked her return to stand-up comedy, a significant shift after years of hosting “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” The talk show concluded after 19 seasons, leaving behind a legacy of 34 Emmy Awards. Despite the controversies, DeGeneres remains a notable figure in comedy, known for her humor and philanthropy.
During her performances, DeGeneres has reflected on her career’s ups and downs. She recounted her first experience of being “kicked out of show business” when she came out as a lesbian in 1997. “Next time, I’ll be kicked out for being old. Old, gay, and mean, the triple crown,” she quipped. DeGeneres maintained that while she can be demanding and tough, she is not inherently mean.
The lack of a specified reason for the cancellations has led to speculation among fans and media alike. However, there is no confirmed connection between the tour disruptions and the previous allegations against her. Close friends of DeGeneres have suggested that she is unlikely to return to television soon and is focusing on her stand-up comedy career.