Ellen DeGeneres has revealed a triple health diagnosis in her brand new Netflix special, which she’s promised will be her ‘last’ moment in the spotlight.
The actress and TV presenter, 66, rose to fame in the 1990s as the lead star of the sitcom Ellen before starting her own talk shows in the 2000s.
In 2022, however, the Finding Nemo and Finding Dory voice actress stepped aside from the entertainment industry after claims of workplace bullying were made against her – claims Ellen denies.
The Ellen DeGeneres Show came to a close after 19 years on the air, and in 2024 the presenter vowed to leave showbiz behind after Netflix special For Your Approval.
When a fan asked if she had any upcoming projects, Ellen reportedly said: ‘Um, no. This is the last time you’re going to see me. After my Netflix special, I’m done.’
And in that Netflix special, Ellen revealed that she had been diagnosed with ADHD, OCD, and osteoporosis, joking about her surprise that she was even able to perform her stand-up routines.
‘I don’t even know how I’m standing up right now. I’m like a human sandcastle. I could disintegrate in the shower,’ she told the members of the audience.
‘I had excruciating pain one day and I thought I tore a ligament or something. I got an MRI and they said, “No, it’s just arthritis”. I said, “How did I get that?” And he said, “Oh it just happens at your age.”‘
Osteoporosis is a debilitating disease of the bones that causes them to become weaker and brittle, leading to increased chances of breakages and fractures.
ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder) is a condition that affects peoples’ behaviour, making them seem restless and affecting their ability to focus and concentrate.
While OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) is a mental health condition that can cause a person to have obsessive thoughts and repetitive behaviours.
Ellen also went into her diagnoses: ‘I didn’t know what OCD was. I was raised in a religion, Christian Science, that doesn’t acknowledge diseases or disorders. So when I was growing up, nobody talked about anything. There was no discussion of anything.’
She continued: ‘My ADD makes it really hard to sit down and focus on anything at all. I mean, do you know how hard it was for me to put this together? Of course, you don’t. Why would I ask that question? It’s hard for me to focus.’
As reported by Variety, the comedian denied allegations that she wasn’t kind to co-workers: ‘I am many things, but I am not mean.’
In the special, she also told the audience that this is the ‘second time’ she has been ‘kicked out’ of showbusiness, recalling that she was blacklisted after coming out as gay to Oprah Winfrey in 1997.
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In 2004, Ellen met her eventual wife, Arrested Development actress Portia De Rossi, and began a relationship – the pair have now been married for 16 years.