Ellen DeGeneres has been known for her kindness and generosity, especially when it comes to helping out regular people and putting a spotlight on folks who do something nice or help make us all laugh. Well, amid controversy over how The Ellen DeGeneres Show is treating its employees during this difficult time, the host has given a boost to some nurses on the front lines of our current health crisis.
A team of nurses at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, who now go by the name “The Swab Squad" because of the work they do running the testing center for COVID-19 at the hospital, have recently had a video go viral which features some of the nurses doing the dance for Ciara's song "Level Up" in order to get their spirits up before they began their day. DeGeneres had the whole team on Ellen to talk about how the dancing came about, and had some surprises in store for them. Take a look!
This was sweet, right? Along with speaking to several members of The Swab Squad, and being able to have the team assembled for the interview, DeGeneres was able to get Ciara, and her husband Russell Wilson, to say a special thanks for all the work they've done to make sure people get tested and have the treatment they need. Ever filled with surprises, she also made sure that the hospital's Better Together Fund, which helps their employees who are struggling financially right now, got a boost with a $50,000 donation.
To top it all off, DeGeneres invited the whole team to the show for one of her 12 Days of Giveaways shows, which airs around Christmas, as well as dedicating that show to everyone who was on the front lines to fight the coronavirus. It was a bit odd to see people celebrate so hard while wearing face masks, but it was also good to see them happy, right?
Unfortunately, anyone who's been following news about Ellen will know that this show of generosity comes as she's been accused of being less than generous with her own employees. Late last week word came down about a number of complaints that her core stage crew was said to be having, including getting their pay reduced by 60% and having another company come in to help with the show while it broadcasts remotely, meaning that a lot of the crew isn't being as utilized as they could be.
Warner Bros. Television released a statement saying that the company was "committed to taking care of our staff and crew," but it's clear that many of those working on Ellen don't see it that way. While there's likely more to come on that front, hopefully DeGeneres will be able to keep making the lives of those on the front lines and others trying to thrive through this crisis a bit better with her show.
You can check your local listings to see when to catch Ellen on TV, but for more to watch be sure to check out our summer TV guide and see when all the finales are coming in the next few weeks!
