Ellen DeGeneres Opens Up About ‘Excruciating Pain’ & Life After Being ‘Canceled’ In New Netflix Special

Ellen DeGeneres is back with her new Netflix comedy special, For Your Approval. On the show, The former TV host shares her thoughts about fame, being canceled, and life after she was “kicked out of show business.”

Not only that, the 66-year-old boldly talked about her health and aging struggles with her fans and viewers on the show. She opened up about being diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Arthritis, and other health conditions.

Ellen DeGeneres shares struggles with ‘excruciating pain’

In her Netflix special, Ellen opened up about her experiences with ADHD and OCD. She admitted to initially misunderstanding OCD, thinking it just meant being organized. Growing up in a home where Christian Science was practiced, and they didn’t believe in sickness or disorders, Ellen said she “didn’t know what OCD was” and wasn’t exposed to discussions about mental health. Ellen then shared her struggles with ADHD, saying it makes it difficult to focus. “It was challenging to put this special together,” she says. “My ADD makes it hard to sit down and focus.”

Per her osteoporosis diagnosis, Ellen joked “My bones are like sand – I’m a human sandcastle! I could disintegrate in the shower.” Ellen also talked about her experience with arthritis, which caused excruciating pain. Initially thinking she’d torn a ligament, she went to the doctor, and an MRI scan revealed that it was just arthritis.

Ellen DeGeneres had to see a therapist after being canceled for being the ‘Queen of Mean’

In 2020, the Internet shook with allegations of Ellen being a “Queen of Mean,” a “toxic boss,” and a “villain.” The controversy began with a July 2020 BuzzFeed News report, where Ellen’s current and former employees came out to share their unpleasant experiences of working under her. They all claimed that they had suffered or witnessed racial microaggression, workplace intimidation, unjust termination, inability to take leaves without being penalized, and a toxic work environment on set.

In a May 2021 Today show appearance, Ellen expressed confusion and regret, stating, “I still don’t fully understand what happened. It seemed orchestrated and coordinated. I wish someone had approached me privately about the issues.” The comedian revealed that after the allegations of her work environment being toxic and her show being ‘canceled,’ she had to go see a mental health therapist.