Ellen DeGeneres Opens Up About Her Painful Past
Recently, Ellen DeGeneres bravely shared a dark family secret, hoping her honesty will help others who have faced similar struggles. The beloved comedian expressed her anger towards those who refuse to believe survivors of abuse. Growing up in Louisiana, Ellen faced many challenges, but she never let them stop her from pursuing her dreams.
Ellen first stepped into the spotlight in the late 1970s, overcoming obstacles with her incredible talent and determination. Her big break came in 1986 when she performed a stand-up routine on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
This performance opened many doors for her, leading to more late-night show appearances, numerous comedy gigs, and roles on popular TV series.
In an interview with the New York Times back in 1994, Ellen shared her excitement about her work: “I was laughing out loud when I read the script. I knew what I could do with it. I wanted a show that everybody talks about the next day.” And talk they did! Ellen became a household name, especially after she came out as a lesbian both on her show and in real life.
However, her show was canceled in 1998, leaving her heartbroken. But that same year, she found love with actress Anne Heche. Heche described their first meeting, saying, “I saw the most ravishing woman I had ever seen in my life standing across the room.
Her name was Ellen DeGeneres. She was radiating.” Their romance was passionate, but it ended in 2000. Shortly after, Heche revealed her own painful secrets, including the sexual abuse she suffered as a child.
In a 2001 interview with Barbara Walters, Heche bravely shared her story, saying, “He raped me.” She explained how difficult it is for children to talk about abuse because memories can be hazy. “I didn’t carry around a tape recorder…I didn’t chisel anything in stone,” she said.
“Anyone can look and say, ‘Well, how do you know for sure?’ And that’s one of the most painful things about it. You don’t.”
Ellen also faced her own trauma and shared her feelings about it. In 2018, she told Savannah Guthrie on Today, “As a victim of sexual abuse, I am furious at people who don’t believe it and who say, ‘How do you not remember exactly what day it was?’ You don’t remember those things. What you remember is what happened to you, where you were, and how you feel.”
Ellen had previously opened up about her experience on The Ellen DeGeneres Show while speaking with actress Busy Phillips, who revealed she was sexually assaulted at just 14 years old.
Ellen responded, “I was 15 and I had something happen to me…anyone who has had something happen to them, you just get so angry when someone doesn’t believe you or says, ‘Why did you wait so long?’ It’s because we’re girls and we’re taught not to say anything and go along with it.”
The comedian later shared more about her painful past during an appearance on David Letterman’s Netflix show, My Next Guest Needs No Introduction. Ellen explained that the abuse began when she was around 15 or 16 years old. Her mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer and had undergone surgery, which made her former stepfather take advantage of her vulnerability.
“He told me when she was out of town that he’d felt a lump in her breast and needed to feel my breasts,” she tearfully explained. “He convinced me that he needed to feel my breasts and then he tried to do it again another time, and then another time.”
Ellen kept these terrible secrets hidden from her mother for years. When she finally found the courage to share her truth, her mom didn’t believe her. Ellen reflected on this painful experience, saying, “I should never have protected her.
I should have protected myself.” Her mother remained married to the man who hurt Ellen for another 18 years, only leaving him after he changed his story multiple times.
Looking back on her trauma, Ellen admitted, “I wish I would have been better taken care of. I wish she would have believed me.” Although her mother has since apologized, the hurt still lingers.
Ellen’s courage in sharing her story is a beacon of hope for many who have suffered in silence. Her openness encourages others to speak out and seek help. As Ellen said, “You don’t remember those things. What you remember is what happened to you, where you were, and how you feel.”
We hope that Ellen and all those who bravely share their experiences inspire others to break their silence and join the conversation about this important topic. What do you think of Ellen’s story? We’d love to hear your thoughts!
