Ellen DeGeneres may have publicly apologized, but several viewers stopped tuning into her show since the recent toxic workplace scandal.
According to Nielsen, ratings are down for The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Compared to last year, viewership dropped by 38%. Nielsen Media Research reports the show averaged a 1.2 ratings for its Season 18 premiere week, a 29% drop compared to last year’s premiere week.
Since then, the show has averaged around 1.7 million viewers, 38% less when compared to last year at this time. According to the Daily Mail, the Season 18 premiere was the show’s highest viewed since 2016. But viewership numbers quickly fell afterwards.
Ellen DeGeneres apologized during premiere
DeGeneres took the time to apologize to viewers during the season premiere. Some former and current employees saw the move as “tactical.” The talk show host addressed the allegations of racism, sexual harassment and a toxic work environment on her set.
“As you may have heard, this summer there were allegations of a toxic work environment at our show and then there was an investigation. I learned that things happened here that never should have happened,” DeGenres said. She addressed the allegations during the show’s monologue. “I take that very seriously, and I want to say I am so sorry to the people who were affected,’ she said. “I know that I’m in a position of privilege and power, and I realize that with that comes responsibility, and I take responsibility for what happens at my show.”
Her apology wasn’t enough to save her show’s ratings as viewers quickly dropped off after the first episode back. Viewership for most daytime talk shows is down, but DeGeneres’ show has the sharpest drop, according to USA TODAY. DeGeneres’ game show Ellen’s Game of Games also dropped in ratings by almost 40%.
[H/T: Daily Mail]
