Ellen DeGeneres has made her first public appearance in the UK since relocating, revealing that former President Donald Trump’s re-election was the tipping point behind her decision to move.
Speaking at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, the comedian and former talk show host said she and wife Portia de Rossi decided to stay in England permanently after arriving the day before the 2020 election. “We got here the day before the election and woke up to crying emojis,” Ellen said. “We were like, ‘We’re staying here.’”
DeGeneres, 67, shared that life in the UK feels “simpler” and “better,” praising the scenery, architecture, and even the manners. “It’s clean. People are polite. Everything here is just better,” she told broadcaster Richard Bacon. The couple bought a home in the Cotswolds, originally meant to be part-time, but it quickly became their full-time residence.
While they’ve embraced rural life—complete with chickens and briefly, some rebellious sheep—DeGeneres also touched on more serious concerns. She said that with moves in the U.S. to challenge gay marriage rights, she and de Rossi are considering renewing their vows in England. “The Baptist Church in America is trying to reverse gay marriage,” she said. “If that happens, we’re getting married here.”
Reflecting on her career, Ellen revisited the downfall of her daytime talk show, which ended in 2022 following allegations of a toxic work environment. She admitted to being “blunt,” but pushed back on claims that she was “mean,” labeling them as oversimplified and hurtful. “I hate that people think that about me,” she said. “I know who I am—empathetic and compassionate.”
She also touched on the challenges of being openly gay in Hollywood, saying the fear still exists for many in the industry. “If things were really better, more actors I know who are gay would be out—but they’re not.”
Still, Ellen sees hope in the younger generation, who she says are more open and fluid about identity and acceptance. “They’re going to show us the way.”
Though she misses her talk show, she doesn’t see the traditional format surviving in today’s media landscape. “I’d love to do something again,” she said. “But for now, I’m just figuring it out—and a little bit bored.” photo by Alan Light, Wikimedia commons.