Ellen DeGeneres’ Toxic Workplace Scandal Comes Back To Haunt Her – Struggles With Ratings, Guests, And Advertisers

2020 has been a rough year for all of us, but it has been a particularly difficult one for ‘toxic’ talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. The skeletons started coming out of the “Be Kind” host and comedienne’s closet during quarantine and now she’s reaping the consequences of her actions.

After being one of the most beloved figures in daytime television for over a decade, Ellen found herself on the verge of being “cancelled” this past summer.

The show was under fire after dozens of current and former employees came forward to accuse the beloved host of turning a blind eye to racism, intimidation, and sexual misconduct on the set of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”.

BACKSTORY: Ellen DeGeneres’ Producers Panic – Say ‘It Would Break A Lot Of Hearts’ To Cancel The Show

It’s been just over two months since Ellen returned to her talk show for the new season, and she’s managed to keep her name out of the headlines (for the most part).

However, this does not mean things are going well for her. A new Buzzfeed report this week that indicates that her once dominant daytime talk show is in some serious jeopardy.

‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ Struggles With Ratings And Advertisers

Various employees and sources “with knowledge of the situation” came forward this week to tell BuzzFeed News that “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” has lost advertisers and is struggling to even book guests.

Apparently A-list stars don’t want to be associated with the embattled show.

Ratings have also nosedived, as viewers seem to have lost all faith in the woman whose mantra has always been to “be kind.”

Two staffers on the show said that lack of funds from advertisers has made it difficult to continue the production of digital content on the show, forcing producers to re-air old segments rather than create new ones.

“We’re trying to be a content house, but we have no content,” one staffer said.

Related: ‘Toxic’ Ellen DeGeneres Accused Of ‘Torturing’ Her Household Staff

Trouble Booking Guests On ‘Ellen’ After Toxic Workplace Scandal

This employee went on to add that booking guests on Ellen’s show has also turned into a major problem since the scandal.

“For the first time, everyone was starting to ask us, ‘If you have an idea, tell us because we will listen. If you have an idea for a celeb, even if they’re not A-list or famous, we’ll take anyone who will bring us numbers and eyeballs,’” the staffer explained. “That’s when they started to be real with us and essentially said, ‘Give us anything because we need help.’ Our old strategy doesn’t work anymore.”

Publicists spoke to Buzzfeed on the condition of anonymity to say that they “aren’t booking as many of their clients on the daytime talk show” because they are wary of clients participating in a “comeback tour” for DeGeneres.

They added that some A-list stars have even specifically asked not to be booked on Ellen’s show, saying that they don’t even want to make a virtual appearance with the host.

“I wouldn’t set up anyone on her show right now to do anything that could possibly cause them more negative headlines,” confessed one publicist. “You have to tread so carefully with your clients and your clients’ reputations, so you don’t want to put your client in any line of fire sympathizing with someone that any community or anyone would feel bad about. We’re not going to align anyone with Ellen.”

‘Ellen Show’s’ Ratings Nosedive 

Making matters even worse for DeGeneres is the fact that the ratings for “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” have nosedived like crazy.

The ratings for the show are down an astounding 37% from the previous season.

While ratings for all daytime talk shows are down 19% this year, none have plummeted as much as the 30-time Emmy winner’s.

Related: Ellen DeGeneres Dealt Crushing Blow: Ratings Plummet After ‘Toxic’ Workplace Scandal

It’s becoming increasingly obvious that the toxic workplace may have damaged Ellen DeGeneres’ brand beyond repair.

Hollywood A-list stars who once lined up to appear on Ellen’s show now want nothing to do with it.

Her brand has been tarnished and that can be seen as poison in Hollywood. Celebrity agents and PR rep don’t want to see a “toxic” Ellen drag their clients down with her.

Related: Ellen DeGeneres Show Probe Could End Her Career, Warns PR Expert

Viewers have no interest in tuning in to watch a show hosted by a woman who ends every episode by telling people to “be kind” to one another, then acts nasty to people behind the scenes.

Ellen had a good run, but it seems that her best days are likely behind her at this point.