Kathy Griffin’s book Celebrity Run-Ins: My A-Z Index came out less than a month ago. It sounded (and reviews confirm) like a fast read with a bunch of celebrity gossip, which is right up my alley. One of the stories being used to hype the book was about the poorly kept Hollywood secret that Ellen DeGeneres has a mean streak. Although Kathy wouldn’t name her in the book, her description left little doubt. Then Kathy confirmed it was Ellen in one of her first interviews on the book. Well, apparently, Ellen still doesn’t want the word out because Kathy said Ellen called her and “ranted” about Kathy singling her out like that.
In a recent interview with Access Hollywood, Griffin claimed DeGeneres is “furious” with her after she called out the talk show host for having “a mean streak that all of Hollywood knows about” in her new book, Celebrity Run-Ins: My A-Z Index.
When the two comedians discussed Griffin’s claims over the phone, the comedian said, DeGeneres “just really was on a rant.”
“I had mentioned on your show that I wish that women would support each other more, in particular super super influential women,” Griffin told Access Hollywood. “I expressed that to her and she was like, ‘I don’t have to have anybody on my show I don’t like.’”
According to Griffin, DeGeneres repeated, “I don’t hate you,” and Griffin responded, “I don’t think you hate me.” But after hanging up, Griffin said she “started sobbing.”
“At the end of the day, whether we like each other or not, I’m always going to support a woman, over fifty, in the game and making a great living,” she said.
I don’t have a horse in this race. I’m absolutely convinced Ellen has a mean streak, if not an entire mean side to her personality. But I don’t understand Kathy’s game other than churning the waters to sell her book. She called Ellen out publicly and doesn’t understand why Ellen got mad at her for it? She has a mean streak, how the hell did Kathy think she would respond? As Kathy explained, she’s so bothered by Ellen’s reaction because, “I’m always going to support a woman, over fifty, in the game and making a great living,” a point she made while trashing Ellen. It doesn’t add up. I’m not even disputing Kathy’s support of Ellen on occasion but she isn’t doing it when she’s tattling on her.
It’s when Kathy drags poor Joan Rivers into the mix that I completely lose her reasoning. Kathy told Ellen during their phone call that the last time she had dinner with Joan, Kathy asked how Ellen felt about her, to which Joan responded, “ugh, still hates me. You?” So Kathy said, “I mentioned the Joan Rivers thing… I just said look, after all this time, two years since Joan’s passed away, I don’t like it that you labeled me as a mean comic… I believe there’s all kinds of comedy, but I don’t want Joan labeled as mean because… she didn’t have a mean bone in her body.” Wait, didn’t she jump subjects there? Even looking past the leap in logic, here’s my problem with Kathy’s stance: the incident in which Ellen called Kathy mean happened in 2007 and Joan died in 2014. I can’t tell you anything about Joan and Ellen’s feud because the only offering Google gives me is what Kathy said above. Ellen has not made a public statement on any of this. Kathy’s schtick is making fun of people and Ellen’s public stance is the antithesis of that. Kathy has every right to call her out but how can she be shocked that Ellen isn’t taking it well?
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We all have mean streaks (some larger than others) but why is it these celebs get all up in arms over the littlest slight which them becomes a big time feud. So over their shattered egos.
Team KG, LOVE YOU!
People must be very naive if they think the very successful are always so very nice. What’s clear is that Ellen is a successful, intelligent woman who has a vision. In those times her subordinates get in the way or don’t do what they are are told to do, she is going to be loudly angry especially under time constraints.
The people who work for the show (aside from key producers who are all horrible like Ellen) are competent, decent people. Ellen’s “vision” has to do with little more than what’s convenient and profitable for Ellen. Other succcessful people in the business demonstrate a spirit of magnanimity, and even true largesse at times, toward their crew, recognizing that they are a crucial component of a show’s success, Ellen is not one of those people.
For years I’ve had a strong feeling that Ellen was a meanspirited, false, controlling person with an insatiable need for love and adulation at all costs. I’ve felt sorry for Portia ever since they married and she seemed to begin fading away. But I honestly don’t get wtf Kathy G. is trying to do here besides sell books at someone else’s expense. And that bores me.
Ellen is a brat. I’m not going to support her just because she’s a woman or a lesbian. Being either and being successful doesn’t give her a pass to step on everyone to make sure she stays at the top. Is she even really at the top anymore?
Just look at how Portia has deteriorated in their time together. Enough said.
I used to think Kathy was funny. She was Joan Rivers light. She knew who to go after and it was usually pretty funny stuff. But she has gotten older and so has her humor. Her favorite targets used to be reality show people and d-listers, now she’s out for Ellen. I know little about Ellen and don’t care if she has a temper. She went on national television and said she was gay when it wasn’t commonplace. She had guts and put her career on the line and came out on top. Get over yourself Kathy, most people did a long time ago. I believe it is Ellen who has a talk show that’s been on forever and gets great guests……put that in your pipe and smoke it after you use the same old mom drinks wine out of a box joke,
So because she was brave in coming out years ago, that gives her a pass to mean to people? Nah. Ellen sucks, Kathy is just calling her out on it.
I love love loved Kathy’s story about Harry Styles and Kendall Jenner. I cringe when I think about it, but that makes good gossip.
Ellen’s sexuality shouldn’t absolve her of anything.
The only weird thing about the story is that Kathy talked trash, got called out by Ellen and then hung up the phone and sobbed?!! Really, Kathy!
I would be upset if someone wrote bad stuff about me in a book too.
Ellen isn’t perfect and I’m sure not always 100% awesome to be around, but why Kathy is keeping this going is baffling to me, other than it brings her attention and sells books. And she’s talking out of both sides of her mouth with the “support women” stuff.
Ellen does have a mean streak, and I’ve noticed that Fallon has one as well.
I saw Ellen do stand up in New Orleans. This was back in 2001. The ENTIRE lesbian community came out to see her. She. Was. Rude. I was appalled at her attitude towards the audience. I have never liked her since.