Ellen DeGeneres Reveals a Dark Family Secret
Recently, Ellen DeGeneres, the beloved comedian and talk show host, opened up about a painful secret from her childhood. She hopes that by sharing her story, she can help others who might be going through something similar. Ellen, who grew up in Louisiana, has always been a fighter, overcoming many challenges to reach the spotlight in the late 1970s.
Ellen’s big break came in 1986 when she performed a hilarious stand-up routine on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. This performance launched her career, leading to more appearances on late-night shows, gigs at comedy clubs, and roles in TV series.
In a 1994 interview with The New York Times, she expressed her excitement about a new show she was working on: “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! Her show became a huge hit, especially after she bravely came out as a lesbian both on the show and in real life.
However, things took a turn when her show was canceled in 1998. Ellen felt devastated but found some comfort in her relationship with actress Anne Heche, which she revealed the same year.
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!” Unfortunately, their relationship ended in 2000, and shortly after, Heche shared her own dark past.
In a 2001 interview with Barbara Walters, Heche bravely revealed that she had been sexually abused by her father since she was a toddler. “He raped me,” she said, sharing her painful truth.
Heche’s story was a reminder of how difficult it can be for survivors to speak out. “I think it’s always hard for children to talk about abuse because it is only memory. I didn’t carry around a tape recorder…I didn’t chisel anything in stone,” she explained. “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. In a 2018 interview with Savannah Guthrie on Today, she expressed her anger towards those who don’t believe survivors of abuse. “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?’” she said.
“You don’t remember those things. What you remember is what happened to you, where you were, and how you feel. That’s what you remember.”
Ellen had previously opened up about her experience on The Ellen DeGeneres Show with actress Busy Phillips, who shared her own story of being sexually assaulted at 14.
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.”
In a later interview with David Letterman, Ellen revealed more about her painful experience. She explained that her abuse started when she was around 15 or 16 years old. At that time, her mother was battling breast cancer and had undergone a mastectomy.
Ellen’s former stepfather used this vulnerable moment to manipulate her. “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 shared. “He convinced me that he needs to feel my breasts and then he tries to do it again another time, and then another time.”
Ellen kept her secret hidden from her mother for years, and when she finally found the courage to tell her, her mother didn’t believe her. “I should never have protected her. I should have protected myself,” Ellen reflected.
Her mother stayed married to the abuser for another 18 years before finally leaving him after he changed his story too many times. Ellen said, “I didn’t really let it get to me. Until recently, I kind of went, ‘I wish I would have been better taken care of. I wish she would have believed me.’”
Ellen DeGeneres’s story is one of bravery and resilience. By speaking out, she hopes to inspire others who may be suffering in silence. Her journey reminds us that it’s essential to believe and support survivors of abuse.
What do you think about Ellen’s courage to share her story? We encourage you to share your thoughts and help raise awareness about this important topic!
