Just weeks after vowing to kick off a ânew chapterâ for her daytime talk show, Ellen DeGeneres has gotten a style makeover.
Last week, the Emmy winner revealed that sheâd swapped her trademark pixie haircut for a slicked-back pompadour.
Though sheâs posted several Instagram photos showcasing the new look over the past several days, it began making headlines this week, notably after Mondayâs and Tuesdayâs airings of âThe Ellen DeGeneres Show.â
While DeGeneres hasnât commented publicly on her new âdo, some fans have suggested it was partly inspired by her wife, Portia de Rossi, who has recently been rocking a similar cut.
Media outlets, however, have widely interpreted it as signaling a fresh start for the host after a tumultuous summer.
Last month, the host kicked off Season 18 of âThe Ellen DeGeneres Showâ by issuing her first public comments on the bombshell claims of workplace toxicity made by staff members earlier this year.
The controversy began in July, when BuzzFeed published two lengthy articles in which current and former âEllenâ employees alleged theyâd been subjected to behind-the-scenes intimidation, racism and sexual misconduct.
In a six-minute Sept. 21 monologue, DeGeneres acknowledged that she was âin a position of privilege and powerâ and took responsibility, even though most of the claims were directed at executive producers and senior managers.
Watch a clip from Wednesdayâs âEllen DeGeneres Showâ with guest Ken Jeong below.
âAs you may have heard, this summer there were allegations of a toxic work environment on our show, and then there was an investigation,â she said at the time. âI learned that things happened here that never should have happened. I take that very seriously, and I want to say that I am so sorry to the people who were affected.â
Acknowledging the circumstances in which âThe Ellen DeGeneres Showâ was returning to the airwaves, she said she hoped it could âstill be a place of happiness and joyâ for viewers grappling with both divisive politics and the COVID-19 pandemic.
DeGeneresâ on-air mea culpa drew a mixed response from critics, and whether those words will resonate among her loyal viewers still remains to be seen. Earlier this month, Variety reported that her Season 18 debut week viewership was down 37% from that of the previous year.
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