ELLEN DEGENERES OPENED the 18th season of her talk show by addressing allegations of toxic workplace culture under her watch, saying “I take responsibility for what happens at my show.”

It was the first time she publicly addressed the controversy surrounding her after BuzzFeed News published a report over the summer detailing a culture of fear among her employees that included accusations of sexual misconduct, racism and intimidation from the show’s management.

The reports followed rumours and anecdotal posts on social media that DeGeneres was difficult to work with — and not nearly as nice as her show portrayed her to be.

“I want to say I am so sorry to the people who were affected. I know that I’m in a position of privilege and power and I realised that with that comes responsibility, and I take responsibility for what happens at my show,” DeGeneres said in her opening monologue, released online ahead of its broadcast today.

DeGeneres said her show was kicking off a “new chapter” after “necessary changes” following an internal investigation from parent company Warner Media.

The long-time comedian, actor and host also joked that she was in a tough position given her reputation as the “be kind” lady, a nickname she earned after she urged kindness following the suicide of a young man who was bullied for being gay.

“Being known as the ‘be kind’ lady is a tricky position to be in,” DeGeneres said. “So let me give you some advice out there if anybody’s thinking of changing their title or giving yourself a nickname, do not go with the ‘be kind’ lady. Don’t do it.”

“The truth is I am that person that you see on TV,” she continued, denying allegations that offstage her personality was a far cry from the sunny persona she has crafted onstage.

DeGeneres, 62, made waves in 1997 after becoming one of the first television stars to publicly come out as gay, which she did while starring in the sitcom Ellen.

Last year, prior to the scandal surrounding her eponymous show, she renewed her hosting contract through 2022, also inking a deal to create three shows for the streaming platform HBO Max.

- © AFP 2020