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Three top producers on the "The Ellen DeGeneres
Show" exited the show, producer Warner Bros. said in August
after an internal investigation into complaints of bullying,
racism and sexual misconduct against them.
"I learned that things happen here that never should have
happened," DeGeneres, 62, said in the opening monologue for the
premiere of her show's 18th season. "I take that very seriously
and I want to say I am so sorry to the people who were
affected."
"We have made the necessary changes and today we are starting a
new chapter," she added.
Over the summer, weeks of backstage turmoil undermined the
show’s public message of spreading kindness and happiness.
Reports of a hostile workplace have included criticism that
DeGeneres is mean-spirited. These prompted a social media
campaign calling for her replacement and public statements of
support for the comedian from the likes of Katy Perry, Kevin
Hart, Alec Baldwin and Ashton Kutcher.
DeGeneres, who is gay, joked that she was a good actress because
she has played straight women. "But I don't think that I'm that
good that I could come out here every day for 17 years and fool
you," she said of her reputation for kindness.
"I am that person that you see on TV," she said. "I am also a
lot of other things. Sometimes I get sad, I get mad, I get
anxious, I get frustrated, I get impatient. And I am working on
all of that. I am a work in progress."
(Reporting by Lisa Richwine; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
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