Ellen DeGeneres has recently spoken about a deeply personal and painful experience from her past. By sharing her story, she hopes to offer support to others who may have faced similar struggles.
The comedian and television personality has expressed frustration toward those who dismiss survivors’ experiences, saying she wishes she had been protected as a young girl. She firmly stands by those who have spoken out, stating that memories of such events aren’t about specific dates but rather the feelings and circumstances surrounding them.
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Born in Louisiana, DeGeneres began her rise to fame in the late 1970s, overcoming numerous challenges along the way. Her breakthrough came in 1986 when she performed a stand-up routine on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, which led to multiple appearances on late-night shows, club bookings, and television roles.
Between 1989 and 1990, she had her first regular television role on Open House, and in 1994, she starred in the sitcom These Friends of Mine, later renamed Ellen. Speaking to The New York Times that year, she recalled how excited she was about the show, saying she wanted something that would get people talking.
And talk they did. The conversation grew even louder when she came out as a lesbian both on her show and in real life.
The sitcom was canceled in 1998, which was a devastating blow, but that same year, she confirmed her relationship with actress Anne Heche. Heche later spoke about her own painful past, revealing that she had been a victim of sexual abuse as a child.
In a 2001 interview with Barbara Walters, Heche shared that she had been sexually assaulted by her father from a very young age. She expressed the difficulty survivors face when their experiences are questioned, explaining that memories of trauma don’t come with proof but are still very real. Tragically, Heche passed away in 2022 after a car accident at the age of 53.
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DeGeneres, too, has faced skepticism about her own experiences. In a 2018 interview with Today’s Savannah Guthrie, she expressed anger toward those who refuse to believe survivors. She explained that traumatic events are remembered not by specific dates but by the emotions and circumstances surrounding them.
She had previously spoken about her experience during an episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show when actress Busy Philipps revealed that she had been sexually assaulted at 14. In response, DeGeneres shared that she had gone through something similar at 15. She highlighted the societal pressure that often silences victims, saying that girls are taught to endure rather than speak out.
A year later, she gave a more detailed account of her experience during an interview with David Letterman for his Netflix series My Next Guest Needs No Introduction. DeGeneres, who has been married to actress Portia de Rossi since 2008, revealed that the abuse began when she was around 15 or 16 years old.
She explained that her mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer and had undergone a mastectomy. Her former stepfather took advantage of this situation, claiming he needed to check her breasts for lumps. He used this excuse multiple times to assault her.
For years, she kept the truth from her mother. When she finally found the courage to tell her, her mother refused to believe her. Instead of leaving the man who had harmed her daughter, she stayed married to him for another 18 years. Eventually, she left him after realizing that his stories kept changing.
Reflecting on her past, DeGeneres admitted that she wishes she had been protected and believed. She acknowledged that her mother has since apologized, but the pain still lingers. Despite this, she has continued to care for her mother over the years.
By sharing her story, DeGeneres hopes to inspire others who have remained silent about their experiences. Her courage, along with the bravery of other survivors, serves as a powerful reminder that these stories need to be heard.
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