Ellen DeGeneres is hilarious, warm, and undeniably charming on her daytime talk show, The Ellen
Degeneres Show, which has been on the air for more than 15 years.
Her sweet nature puts her guests at ease, even when she asks them uncomfortable questions
about their dating lives or pregnancy status.
Unfortunately, not even DeGeneres' quick wit, humor and laid-back demeanor could salvage
these awkward moments.
From a thieving audience member to a Kanye West rant to a bizarre misunderstanding with
Ryan Seacrest, some of these segments are more cringe-worthy than comical.
Kanye West
In May 2016, Kanye West literally left DeGeneres speechless.
She asked him if he has regretted anything he's tweeted, and the rapper launched into
a rant lasting more than six straight minutes.
His tangents included everything from his artistry to fashion design to bullying to
race to Facebook.
"Whatever perception you have of me.
Starting with the truth, starting with what everyone is thinking."
"I'm like… whatever, whatever your friends might say.
'We saw Kanye, how was he, did he like…'"
It was clear that at a certain point, DeGeneres decided to just sit back without interjecting
and let him get everything off his chest.
"Everybody's trying to…
I don't give a f--- how much you sold.
"It's like I'm shaking talking about it.
I know it's daytime TV, but I feel that I can make a difference while I'm here."
In light of the psychotic breakdown the rapper suffered six months later, his rant on Ellen
has morphed from something originally interpreted as silly to somewhat dark and sad.
"They call me Whacko Kanye.
Isn't that so funny?
That people point fingers at the people who have influenced us the most."
Jessica Simpson
In May 2017, singer Jessica Simpson gave an interview with DeGeneres that was such a trainwreck,
the hostess couldn't keep a straight face.
Simpson started off the interview slurring and sounding slightly out of breath, insisting
to DeGeneres that she wasn't pregnant.
"No.
We got an IUD… nothing's gonna get in that uterus… uh-huh, okay."
It got worse from there.
She discussed mermaids not being allowed to pee on her children, the definition of "manhandling,"
and the duration of her relationship with her husband — which was a bit unclear.
Seven years now.
Well, coming on seven years… that's a long time."
She mentioned that her husband may or may not give her massages while he's sleeping,
and then discussed her billion dollar fashion empire.
"Somehow you have a billion dollar business…"
"Isn't that awesome?
It can happen for anybody!"
DeGeneres broke the fourth wall several times to give a look to the viewers at home, but
she eventually cut to a commercial to put Simpson and the audience out of their respective
miseries.
Caitlyn Jenner
DeGeneres confronted Caitlyn Jenner about her conservative views on marriage equality
in a September 2015 sit-down that forced the transgender activist to later clarify her
opinions.
"I kinda like tradition and it's always been a man and a woman.
And I'm thinking, 'I don't quite get it.'"
She went on to say that over time, she doesn't want to, quote, "stand in front of anybody's
happiness."
"If that word 'marriage' is really, really that important to you, I can go with it."
DeGeneres, who's married to Portia De Rossi, gently pointed out that the word "marriage"
is in fact important because she wants the same word that everyone else has.
"So equality is important for all of us."
After the episode aired, Jenner wrote on her website,
"Like many people, there was a time when I didn't realize how important it is for gay
couples to have the right to get married.
After hearing from my gay friends and learning more about the hardships they faced because
of discrimination, it became clear to me that everyone should be able to marry the person
they love."
Katy Perry
In 2017, pop superstar Katy Perry appeared on Ellen to play "Will You Perry Me," a version
of "Who Would You Rather."
Before the game began, the singer whined...
"Do I have to get married?
Again?"
Apparently, Degeneres forgot Perry ever had a husband.
"You were not married…"
"I was, when I was 25."
"Were you?"
"It's been a long time, honey."
"To who?
To who?
"His name was Russell Brand…"
"Oh, that's right, I forgot about Russell."
Visibly wanting to change the subject, Perry motions to the producers behind the scenes
in an effort to cut the segment — but to no avail.
"Remember, you gave me some wedding gifts on this show….
"Cool cool cool cool cool."
Nicole Kidman
In this 2017 episode, actress Nicole Kidman perfectly shades fellow guest and Food Network
star Giada De Laurentiis.
The ladies begin by making artichoke arancini, which they roll into balls.
DeLaurentiis asks DeGeneres if she's ever, quote, "made any kind of balls," and DeGeneres
breaks the fourth wall, turning to the crowd for laughs.
DeLaurentiis then asks Kidman if she's ever made any balls….
"This is a family-friendly show."
Moments later, DeLaurentiis appears to be impressed with Kidman's arancini ball rolling…
"Oh my god, the woman who can't cook made the perfect ball!"
"It's a good ball."
When it's time to actually cook the balls, Kidman asks DeLaurentiis where the timer is
and rolls her eyes when DeLaurentiis informs her there is no timer.
"So this is pizza dough from my restaurant…"
"OK, you're opening a restaurant?"
"There's many great cooks in the audience, am I right?"
"Yes, right."
Once DeGeneres and Kidman sample DeLaurentiis' finished plate, they are not impressed, to
say the least.
DeGeneres chews for a while, and Kidman gives a visibly flustered DeLaurentiis her review...
"It's good."
"It's a little tough."
"Nicole it's been sitting there for like 5 hours!"
"I didn't do anything!"
"Ellen jail"
In a June 2017 segment designed to see just how honest her studio audience is, DeGeneres
caught several would-be thieves.
She set up a table with free swag and a sign that instructed audience members to only take
one item.
Most audience members were honest and didn't take more than one item … but then there
was Nancy.
Nancy takes a cup, a keychain, a shirt, and a shot glass, and then when her friend asks
her if she's taking extra swag, Nancy tells her to "shut up."
when.
A bit later, Nancy returns one of her stolen items and swaps it out for a hat.
Unfortunately for Nancy, DeGeneres calls her out in front of everyone.
"My sister couldn't come, so that was her souvenir.
Sorry."
"Yeah, yeah.
A lot of people's sisters couldn't come."
DeGeneres then makes Nancy sit in "Ellen jail" on the stage.
Ouch.
Ryan Seacrest
In January 2008, Ryan Seacrest appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on her birthday and
gave her a Bingo game for them to play at her regular game nights.
Toward the end of the segment, Seacrest finds a small gift bag near his seat.
"What's that?
More gifts?"
"I don't quite, I don't know what that is."
"What?"
A horrified Seacrest clearly thinks the blue metallic bingo marker is, well, something
much more inappropriate for daytime TV.
"I don't know what that is!"
In his best attempt to change the subject, Seacrest tries to play some bingo.
"Alright, uhh, G-51!"