Tracy Grimshaw reflects on the 2013 Ellen interview that left her feeling ‘small’
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Having just stepped off the A Current Affair desk after an impressive 17-year stint, Tracy Grimshaw is certainly no stranger to interviews.
However, despite her experience and expertise, the notable broadcaster recently came forward to reveal some of the details of one particular interview that she felt was designed to make her feel ‘small’.
Broadcasting veteran Tracy Grimshaw has certainly seen more than her fair share of interviews throughout her lengthy career in the television sphere.
The 62-year-old outgoing A Current Affair host recently spoke about her most memorable interviews throughout her career – and her 2013 interview with American talk show host Ellen DeGeneres was certainly up there.
‘I had to interview her on her set, in front of her live audience…and I’m an outsider and a nobody, walking on to that set,’ Tracy told reporters.
And while the interview was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Tracy admitted that the decision to host the chat on Ellen’s turf was a ‘controlling tactic’.
‘She’s certainly a control freak.’
‘It was designed to make me feel small and designed to put me in my place,’ she shared. Tracy also revealed that Ellen ‘doesn’t like’ giving a lot of interviews.
Tracy said that Ellen was pleasant during the interview, but also confirmed that Ellen’s ‘toxic workplace’ scandal would be difficult to bounce back from.
‘History won’t be as kind to Ellen.’
In 2020, news of the show’s ‘toxic’ work environment gained traction overnight when Kevin T. Porter – an American comedian and writer – questioned Ellen’s ‘Be Kind’ slogan. He went on to claim that she was ‘notoriously one of the meanest people alive’.
The call-out prompted thousands of others, from former staff and current employees of the show, to recount their own horrendous experiences of working with and for Ellen.
Most of them described The Ellen Show as a ‘toxic work environment with a culture of racism, fear, and intimidation’. These allegations were sensationalised in a short amount of time and destroyed Ellen’s once sterling reputation.
In September 2020, Ellen addressed the claims and pleaded to her viewers that she was ‘still the person you see on TV’.
‘I learned that things happened here that never should’ve happened,’ she said. Ellen also revealed that being known as the ‘Be Kind’ lady was a ‘tricky position to be in’, and said that she was still a ‘work in progress’.
In May 2021, more than 12 months after her reputation took a nosedive, Ellen pulled the plug on her show.
What can you say about Tracy’s reflections? Let us know in the comments!
However, despite her experience and expertise, the notable broadcaster recently came forward to reveal some of the details of one particular interview that she felt was designed to make her feel ‘small’.
Broadcasting veteran Tracy Grimshaw has certainly seen more than her fair share of interviews throughout her lengthy career in the television sphere.
The 62-year-old outgoing A Current Affair host recently spoke about her most memorable interviews throughout her career – and her 2013 interview with American talk show host Ellen DeGeneres was certainly up there.
‘I had to interview her on her set, in front of her live audience…and I’m an outsider and a nobody, walking on to that set,’ Tracy told reporters.
And while the interview was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Tracy admitted that the decision to host the chat on Ellen’s turf was a ‘controlling tactic’.
‘She’s certainly a control freak.’
‘It was designed to make me feel small and designed to put me in my place,’ she shared. Tracy also revealed that Ellen ‘doesn’t like’ giving a lot of interviews.
Tracy said that Ellen was pleasant during the interview, but also confirmed that Ellen’s ‘toxic workplace’ scandal would be difficult to bounce back from.
‘History won’t be as kind to Ellen.’
In 2020, news of the show’s ‘toxic’ work environment gained traction overnight when Kevin T. Porter – an American comedian and writer – questioned Ellen’s ‘Be Kind’ slogan. He went on to claim that she was ‘notoriously one of the meanest people alive’.
The call-out prompted thousands of others, from former staff and current employees of the show, to recount their own horrendous experiences of working with and for Ellen.
Most of them described The Ellen Show as a ‘toxic work environment with a culture of racism, fear, and intimidation’. These allegations were sensationalised in a short amount of time and destroyed Ellen’s once sterling reputation.
In September 2020, Ellen addressed the claims and pleaded to her viewers that she was ‘still the person you see on TV’.
‘I learned that things happened here that never should’ve happened,’ she said. Ellen also revealed that being known as the ‘Be Kind’ lady was a ‘tricky position to be in’, and said that she was still a ‘work in progress’.
In May 2021, more than 12 months after her reputation took a nosedive, Ellen pulled the plug on her show.
Key Takeaways
- Tracy Grimshaw reflected on her most memorable interviews throughout her career – including the world-exclusive interview she had with Ellen DeGeneres.
- She recalled her experience to reporters, noting that interviewing on Ellen’s home turf felt like a ‘controlling tactic’ designed to make her feel small.
- She also said that the ‘toxic workplace’ allegations against Ellen would be hard to bounce back from, and history won’t be as ‘kind’ to her.
- In 2020, several accounts from Ellen’s employees recalled that the show had a ‘toxic workplace environment’.