It’s been a long year for many, at least since last March when the world first shut down. However, in that time, Ellen DeGeneres faced more challenges than some, as her daytime show dealt with accusations of unkindness and workplace misconduct that led to the firing of two producers. She then made her way back to normal taping of The Ellen Show in studio only to see ratings fall and then get Covid-19 herself. Now, we've learned she actually found out about her diagnosis while at work.
Stepping back into the studio for the first time since her diagnosis in December, Ellen DeGeneres shared that she had actually been ready to tape an episode of The Ellen Show when the results broke that she, in fact, had contracted Covid-19. She told viewers:
I was getting ready to tape the show that you [studio audience] were going to be here for and I was in hair and makeup getting my face powdered and my extensions put in. Then my assistant Craig walks in and says, ‘You’ve tested positive for Covid.’ And then everyone around me ran away. It’s funny, people just really get scared! They ran.
Ellen DeGeneres did not clarify why she was back at work while awaiting Covid-19 test results, but that may not be as weird as it seems. The way safety protocols work on TV shows ensures that people working on TV and movie productions are tested regularly. Thus, it’s possible that she was tested for work before she may have really realized that she was sick. She noted that her team did inform everyone on set and that her symptoms were not what she would have expected from contracting the disease.
So, anyway, I left the studio immediately and my safety team informed everyone I had been in contact with that [I had tested positive].
Ellen DeGeneres went on to detail her symptoms, which she jokes about but does say included debilitating back pain, noting on her show that it was really the only major symptom she had when she wasn’t feeling well. You can see her talk out everything she went through below.
She also called how she contracted Covid-19 “a mystery,” as she is someone who washes her hands regularly and masks up, though it’s worth pointing out that while actually filming television segments I’d assume actors and hosts are somewhat more vulnerable even with precautions in place, simply because they do take their masks off. To note, there's also no way to tell where or how Ellen contracted the disease. Still, because she had Covid-19, The Ellen Show faced delays in late 2020 and had to shut down production for a while, only coming back this week.
It wasn’t the first time a TV show has had to shut down production and it may not be the last. In fact, due to California Covid-19 rates, a lot of shows kicked off or are kicking off their winter TV productions much later than normal. Winter TV is coming back, however, so if you've been waiting on a favorite take a look at CinemaBlend's full premiere schedule.
