It’s been over a year since Ellen DeGeneres fled America and moved to rural England with her wife Portia de Rossi. They made this move in response to Donald Trump winning his second presidential election in the U.S.
Last month, rumors began swirling that DeGeneres, 68, and de Rossi, 53, had allegedly backtracked on fleeing America for England. According to these reports, the couple was plotting their return to America.
Now, DeGeneres and de Rossi are adding to these rumors in a big way by putting down roots in America. They did so by purchasing a $27.4 million mansion in Montecito, California. This will allow them to spend more time in sunny California and avoid another dreary and cold winter in England.
DeGeneres Is ‘Missing’ America
“She’s not moving back to the U.S. but will continue to split her time between both the U.K. and Montecito, [Calif.],” an insider told People Magazine.
A real estate source said that DeGeneres and de Rossi have been “missing the California weather and horse scene” since they moved to England in November of 2024.
“Portia loves polo and her horses,” this source added.
When they left America, DeGeneres and de Rossi settled in a small British village known as the Cotswolds. Though it is favored by British celebrities, it is both rural and remote in nature.
Locals who saw DeGeneres and de Rossi in the Cotswolds last year have said that they haven’t seen DeGeneres “in ages.” A local pub source went so far as to say that she hadn’t seen DeGeneres in “several months.” According to her, many locals assumed that DeGeneres and de Rossi had moved away.
A third local source claimed that DeGeneres was often seen out and about in the village over the summer. However, according to that local, she has not been seen in the colder months since.
“She always looked friendly but nobody ever approached her and it was just another celeb to them,” this insider said.
DeGeneres Flees America Over Trump
DeGeneres has previously confirmed that she chose to flee America because of Trump’s second presidential victory.
“We got here the day before the election and woke up to lots of texts from our friends with crying emojis, and I was like, ‘He got in,’” DeGeneres said at a July event in England. “And we’re like, ‘We’re staying here.’”
DeGeneres went on to gush over her new life in the United Kingdom.
“We moved here in November, which was not the ideal time, but I saw snow for the first time in my life,” she said at the time. “We love it here. Everything here is just better — the way animals are treated, people are polite. I just love it here.”
DeGeneres Changes Her Tune
In the months since then, however, DeGeneres and de Rossi have seemingly changed their tune. When faced with the prospect of spending another cold winter in dreary England, the couple reportedly decided it might be best to come crawling back to America. DeGeneres is allegedly also desperate for a comeback in Hollywood, something that she struggled to make happen from overseas.
“Ellen is realizing it’s hard to close deals or hold meaningful creative meetings from across the pond,” a source told Radar Online in December. “Zoom can only do so much, and L.A. thrives on face-to-face interaction.”
“Ellen is desperate for a fully-fledged showbiz comeback,” the insider added. “Whether that means a sitcom, comedy specials, or producing, she is up for anything at this point. And Portia wants to re-engage with the world. Both of them are craving a life that’s more than rainy pastures, cow muck, and chickens.”
Given how cushy DeGeneres’ life was in southern California, it’s no wonder that she is “missing” America just one year after fleeing. Here’s hoping that if she goes through with spending more time in her new California mansion, she’ll return with a little more appreciation for everything America has to offer, regardless of who is in the White House. Given how notoriously liberal DeGeneres is, however, we won’t be holding our breath for that.
Good riddance, Ellen DeGeneres!