In a heartfelt revelation, Ellen DeGeneres recently opened up about a painful chapter from her past, hoping her candidness might help others facing similar challenges.

Expressing her anger, Ellen wished she had been shielded during her vulnerable years and criticized those who doubt survivors. The Louisiana native burst into the limelight in the late 1970s, overcoming numerous hurdles on her way to success.

Her major break occurred in 1986 after a stand-up gig on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, leading to numerous late-night appearances, back-to-back club engagements, and roles in television series.

From 1989 to 1990, Ellen played a regular role in the short-lived sitcom Open House and became the star of the comedy These Friends of Mine, which was later renamed Ellen, in 1994.

When discussing the show in 1994, the popular host remarked, “I was laughing out loud when I read the script. I knew what I could do with it. I wanted a show that everybody talks about the next day.”

Conversation Starter

Indeed, Ellen’s show did get people talking, especially after she came out as a lesbian, both on the show and in real life. Despite the show’s cancellation in 1998, Ellen’s announcement of her relationship with actress Anne Heche kept the conversations alive.

Anne Heche once described their first meeting, saying, “I saw the most ravishing woman standing across the room, radiating an energy and a glow of fabulousness. That was Ellen!”

Though their relationship ended in 2000, Anne later disclosed traumatic experiences from her own past during a 2001 interview with Barbara Walters.

Heche revealed that she suffered sexual abuse by her father from a very young age, detailing how the absence of concrete evidence often leads to painful disbelief from others.

Dealing with similar skepticism, Ellen once expressed, “As a victim of sexual abuse, I am furious at people who don’t believe it or say, ‘How do you not remember exactly what day it was?’ What you remember is what happened to you, where you were and how you feel.”

‘Furious at People’

Ellen shared her thoughts during a conversation with Savannah Guthrie in 2018 and first opened up about her experience with Busy Phillips on her show.

Busy Phillips shared her own experience of being assaulted at 14, prompting Ellen to reflect on her own encounter at 15, highlighting the societal pressure on girls to remain silent about such experiences.

Though initially brief about her ordeal, Ellen provided more details in a conversation with David Letterman for his Netflix show.

Ellen, married to actress Portia de Rossi since 2008, shared that her former stepfather used her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis to manipulate and assault her. Despite the severity of the abuse, it took years before Ellen shared her story with her mother, who initially struggled to believe her.

Ellen’s mother remained married to her stepfather for 18 years before finally accepting Ellen’s account.

Reflecting on these events, Ellen wished she had been better cared for and protected, acknowledging her mother’s eventual apology but recognizing the long-lasting impact.

Through her story, Ellen hopes to encourage others to speak out and spark important conversations about this often-taboo topic. What do you think about these revelations? Share your thoughts and help spread awareness for those who remain silent.