Ellen DeGeneres recently spoke up for the first time since her popular talk show ended amid controversy.

She described feeling like she had been "kicked out of show business." 

Despite changes made and Ellen’s own claims of ignorance regarding the issues, the damage to her show’s reputation was considered irreparable.

Since the show wrapped up, Ellen has maintained a low profile, only occasionally taking on new projects like the Discovery Channel documentary titled "Saving the Gorillas: Ellen's Next Adventure."

Ellen is now making a comeback in comedy with her new tour, dubbed "Ellen's Last Stand... Up Tour," which kicked off in April in Los Angeles.

She used her first show on the tour to talk about her talk show’s ending.

At her Hollywood performance, as Rolling Stone reported, Ellen joked with the crowd, "Oh yeah, I got kicked out of show business. There's no mean people in show business."

She went on to say, "I became this one-dimensional character who gave stuff away and danced up steps. Do you know how hard it is to dance up steps?" 

"The Ellen DeGeneres Show," which had a successful 19-year run, featured countless celebrities like the Kardashian family, former First Lady Michelle Obama, and Justin Bieber. 

The show was not just a hit in the U.S. but enjoyed global popularity. However, it came to an abrupt end in May 2022 after staff members alleged a "toxic" work environment behind the scenes. 

Ellen Degeneres' show came to an end in 2022 after 19 years. Brooks Kraft / Getty Images

Claims of racism, sexual misconduct, and intimidation reportedly involved three executive producers.

Ellen humorously remarked, "Would a mean person dance up steps? Had I ended my show by saying, 'Go f**k yourself,' people would've been pleasantly surprised."

She also made light of her earlier career struggles, saying, "I didn't go to business school. I went to Charlie's Chuckle Hutt."

This comment was a likely nod to her 1990s sitcom, canceled after she publicly came out as gay.

Ellen also shared the personal impact of recent events, stating, "It's been such a toll on my ego and my self-esteem. 

"There's such extremes in this business, people either love you and idolize you or they hate you, and those people somehow are louder."

 Now 66, Ellen reflected on aging and its challenges, often thinking about deep topics like time and the creation of the universe.

Reflecting humorously on her situation, she said, "The show was called Ellen and everybody was wearing T-shirts that said 'Ellen' and there were buildings on the Warner Brothers lot that said 'Ellen,' but I don't know if that meant I should be in charge." 

Adding a bit of self-reflective humor, she noted, "For those of you keeping score, this is the second time I've been kicked out of show business. 

The comedian has recently embarked on a new comedy tour. The Ellen DeGeneres Show

"Eventually they're going to kick me out for a third time because I'm mean, old, and gay."

Ellen also revealed a recent diagnosis by her doctor of osteoporosis and arthritis.

When asked if dancing made her feel any better, she replied: "No. It's hard to dance when you're crying. But I am dancing now."