The long-awaited “Friends” reunion might be in search of a new leader.
Back in February, it was reported that Ellen DeGeneres would likely host the reunion, which is being filmed for HBO Max. However, the coronavirus pandemic put a halt on the production schedule. In the months since Hollywood essentially shut down, Ellen has been battling rumors that she’s a nightmare to work with.
Ellen DeGeneres arrives at the 77th annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, in Beverly Hills, Calif
77th Annual Golden Globe Awards – Arrivals, Beverly Hills, USA – 05 Jan 2020
On a new episode of Andy Cohen‘s SiriusXM show, Lisa Kudrow was asked about the reunion and evoked Ellen’s name.
“Is there a host for that?” Andy wondered. “Is Ellen — did I hear that Ellen DeGeneres was hosting the reunion?”
Lisa responded, “Um, you may, I don’t know. I don’t know that that’s been decided.”
Although The Wall Street Journal didn’t completely confirm that Ellen would be the host in its February report, it did say she was high on the list of potential hosts.
Now, Ellen’s participation seems like it’s far from a sure thing. The “Ellen DeGeneres Show” host has been a lightning rod of controversy this year as she battles allegations that she’s demeaning toward staff and has created a toxic work environment.
There have also been reports that her show was on the verge on being canceled as it grappled with low ratings — its lowest ratings ever, actually.
As allegations of less-than-flattering behavior poured in, WarnerMedia launched an internal investigation into conditions at “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” WarnerMedia, which owns Warner Bros. Television, the distributor of Ellen’s show, sent a memo to staffers indicating that current and former employees would be asked about their experiences on set. The interviews will be conducted by WarnerMedia’s employee relations group and a third party firm.
In an Aug. 17 video conference call with 200 staffers from her show, Ellen got emotional as she apologetically spoke to her team. She told employees she was “not perfect” and called the disturbing allegations that had been made about the show and its leadership “heartbreaking.”
A source told People magazine that Ellen, who characterized herself as an introvert during the call, also told staffers, “I’m a multi-layered person, and I try to be the best person I can be and I try to learn from my mistakes. I’m hearing that some people felt that I wasn’t kind or too short with them, or too impatient. I apologize to anybody if I’ve hurt your feelings in any way.”
