Anne Heche claims she was fired from multi-million dollar picture deal over Ellen DeGeneres relationship

Actor dated DeGeneres from 1997 to 2000

Ellen DeGeneres and Anne Heche (Rex Features)

Anne Heche has reflected on the prejudice she was subject to for being in a relationship with Ellen DeGeneres.

In a preview of tonight’s (6 October) Dancing with the Stars episode, seen by People magazine, the actor said: “In 1997, I met Ellen DeGeneres at the Vanity Fair party and that was the night that changed my life forever.”

She claimed that, at the film premiere for the 1997 disaster film Volcano, she was told that if she took DeGeneres as her date she would lose her Fox contract.  

Heche continued: “At that moment, [Ellen] took my hand and said, 'Do what they say,' and I said, 'No thanks.' I took Ellen to the premiere and I was ushered out before the movie even ended and was told I was not allowed to go to my own after-party for fear that they would get pictures of me with a woman.”

She added: “I was in a relationship with Ellen DeGeneres for three-and-a-half years and the stigma attached to that relationship was so bad that I was fired from my multi-million dollar picture deal and I did not work in a studio picture for 10 years.”

Tommy Lee Jones and Anne Heche in Volcano (Rex Features)

The Independent has contacted Fox for comment.

In August, Heche urged people to “listen” to those who have made allegations of “mean” behaviour against DeGeneres.

“I haven’t spoken to Ellen in years,” Heche told Mr Warburton Magazine. “I’d listen to the people who have.”

She continued: “If I’m standing someplace and I don’t like what’s going on there and I stay there, it’s my fault. So what are the actions that got me there and why can’t I get out of it easily if that’s not something that I want to be engaged in? Ellen is standing where she walks, and that is hers to continue that journey.”