Ellen DeGeneres series wins People’s Choice Award despite ‘toxic’ workplace scandal

Presenter thanked crew and staff in acceptance speech

Ellen DeGeneres’s chat show has won a People’s Choice Award months after being embroiled in a scandal over an allegedly “toxic” workplace environment.

Claims of bullying and misconduct behind the scenes of the popular daytime talk series led to three senior producers leaving The Ellen DeGeneres Show over the summer.

DeGeneres apologised to staff following an internal review, and addressed the claims on the opening monologue of her show when it returned this autumn.

Now, the series has picked up the prize in the Daytime Talk Show of 2020 category, which was voted for by audiences.

The win consolidates DeGeneres’s status as the most decorated person in the awards show’s history, with 20 wins under her belt.

The comedian and presenter accepted the award at the ceremony in Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar, saying: “Thank you, thank you, thank you, from deep, deep down in my heart. I thank you.

“I am not only accepting this award for myself but on behalf of my amazing crew and staff who make the show possible. They show up every single day, give 100 per cent of themselves, 100 per cent of the time.”

Last month, it was reported that Ellen’s audience had dropped by 37 per cent in the wake of the bully and discrimination allegations behind the scenes.