Television icon Ellen DeGeneres has opened up about her dramatic move from the United States to England, citing political tensions, growing threats to LGBTQ+ rights, and a need for personal peace as the key reasons behind her relocation.
Speaking at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham on Sunday, July 21, the 67-year-old comedian and former talk show host revealed that she and her wife, Portia de Rossi, decided to remain in the UK permanently the day after Donald Trump was re-elected president.
“We got here the day before the election and woke up to texts with crying emojis. And I said, ‘He got in’… And we’re like, ‘We’re staying here,’” she said to an applauding crowd during a live interview with broadcaster Richard Bacon.
The couple, who initially planned to divide their time between the US and UK, have since made the Cotswolds their full-time home. DeGeneres praised the British lifestyle, describing it as simpler, cleaner, and more inclusive.
“It’s absolutely beautiful… everything you see is charming. People are polite, the animals are treated better. It’s just better,” she said.
Concerns Over LGBTQ+ Rights
Ellen also expressed deep concern about the erosion of LGBTQ+ rights in the U.S., referencing recent moves by the Southern Baptist Convention and various state legislatures to challenge or reverse same-sex marriage laws.
“America can still be scary for people to be who they are,” she said, adding that she and Portia are now considering getting married again in England as a precaution against any reversal of rights back home.
“I wish we were at a place where it was not scary for people to be who they are,” she said. “Until we’re there, I think it’s hard to say we’ve made huge progress.”
Despite societal changes, DeGeneres noted that many celebrities still don’t feel safe coming out publicly. “If things were better, they’d be out. But they’re not, because it’s still a problem,” she observed.
On Her Exit from U.S. Television
DeGeneres also revisited the fallout from allegations of a toxic workplace on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which led to its cancellation in 2022. She admitted to being blunt but rejected the characterization of being “mean,” describing the media portrayal as “hurtful” and “clickbait.”
“It’s as simple as: I’m a direct person… Does that mean I’m mean?” she asked. “I hate that people think that about me because I know who I am.”
Despite that painful ending, she doesn’t rule out a return to media—possibly in the UK—but said she’s taking her time. “I want to have fun, I want to do something. I do like my chickens, but I’m a little bit bored,” she joked.
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