Ellen DeGeneres Tests Positive For COVID-19

Gianna Hutton, Design Editor

On Thursday, Dec. 10, popular talk show host Ellen DeGeneres announced in a tweet that she has tested positive for COVID-19. 

“Hi Everyone,” DeGeneres wrote. “I want to let you all know that I tested positive for Covid-19. Fortunately, I’m feeling fine right now. Anyone who has been in close contact with me has been notified, and I am following all proper CDC guidelines. I’ll see you all again after the holidays. Please stay healthy and safe.”

The Ellen DeGeneres show, which re-opened in September with COVID-19 safety protocols, plans to resume production in Jan. 2021. A spokesperson for Telepictures the show’s production company, owned by Warner Bros. — told NPR and CNN that broadcasting plans on rerunning episodes until then.

In the past two weeks, the show has hosted Justin Bieber, Lil Nas X, Diane Keaton, Bryan Cranston and Leslie Odom, Jr.. In late October, they also started allowing a few dozen in-person masked audience members. 

This adds to the already tough year the Ellen Show has faced. Three senior producers left the production after some of the show’s leadership was accused of sexual harassment, racism and creating a toxic work environment by 36 former employees, according to Buzzfeed News and Variety.