Camilla Jessen
Ellen says she “could disintegrate” as she reveals diagnoses.
Ellen DeGeneres has spoken openly about a series of personal and medical challenges that followed her exit from daytime television, disclosing three separate diagnoses during what she has described as her final stand-up special.
The comedian, once the face of one of the world’s most-watched talk shows, has largely withdrawn from public life since workplace-misconduct allegations ended her long-running program.
Her Netflix special For Your Approval, released in September last year, marked the first time she addressed the period in full.
Fall from the spotlight
DeGeneres’ departure from television came after multiple accusations of bullying and mistreatment behind the scenes of The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
The fallout ended a decades-long run that had helped shape her public image as a model of positivity.
She told the live audience that the transition to a quieter life coincided with a wave of health issues.
“I don’t even know how I’m standing up right now. I’m like a human sandcastle,” she joked.
Physical diagnoses
During the special, DeGeneres revealed she had been diagnosed with osteoporosis after experiencing what she thought was a ligament injury.
The condition, as noted by the Mayo Clinic, occurs when bone density decreases and bones become fragile. She said the pain had been “excruciating.”
An initial MRI led doctors to believe she had arthritis.
“It’s hard to be honest about aging and seem cool,” she told the audience.
Mental-health findings
DeGeneres also used the show to discuss opening up in therapy following the workplace allegations. She said a therapist suggested she might have OCD — a diagnosis she initially misunderstood.
“I said, ‘Yes, I am very organized,’ because I thought that was the O,” she recalled. She explained that growing up in Christian Science meant disorders were rarely acknowledged or discussed.
She then disclosed a third diagnosis: ADHD. “So, I have ADD, I have OCD, I’m losing my memory,” she said, adding that the interplay of the conditions sometimes leaves her feeling “well-adjusted” because she quickly forgets what she becomes fixated on.
DeGeneres moved to the UK in 2024 with her wife, Portia de Rossi, and now lives in England.
While she remains active as a Hollywood producer, she has stepped away from talk-show hosting and public appearances, hinting that her Netflix special may be her final major performance.
Sources: Netflix special; Mayo Clinic
