Ali Fedotovsky confesses to being Ellen DeGeneres

Ali Fedotovskii shares his experience with Ellen DeGeneresrevealing that her appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” made her feel less than welcome.

During a recent episode Caitlin BristowOn the “Off the Vine” podcast, the former “Bachelorette” star opened up about her date with the talk show host. The 40-year-old admitted her time on the now-cancelled daytime show wasn't quite the uplifting experience she had hoped for.

Fedotowska appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in May 2010, coinciding with the premiere date of her season of The Bachelorette.

The reality star explained that she was “so excited” to be on the show and was looking forward to meeting the iconic comedian. However, things did not go exactly as she expected.

“She made me feel pretty bad,” Fedotowski admitted to Bristow on the podcastwho responded by noting how often she's heard similar comments from others who have interacted with DeGeneres. Fedotowsky went on to clarify, “It's not that she was mean per se, she just made me feel stupid.”

The former reality TV star said afterwards that she tried to be 'funny and likable' during her performance: 'And instead of laughing with me, she was laughing at me. I just felt really stupid. “

Despite her negative experiences, Fedotowska was quick to add that she doesn't think DeGeneres is a bad person. “I just think sometimes when you do a job like that all day, every day for years, you just get over it,” she continued. “And she's talking to people who are drafted, and then here's this 24-year-old famous person showing up on her show for no reason, and she's like, 'I have to talk to one of these idiots again?'

Bristow, who starred on “The Bachelorette” in 2015, has never appeared on the talk show, something she says happened for a reason.

“I think the world kept me from being on her show because they say, 'Don't meet your heroes,' and she was mine the whole time. “But I think that would have been really upsetting for me, and now I don't like her because of everything , which I've heard from very reliable sources (…) I'm not good at being mean to people, but I get through it, and I've always said that if there was one reason I was on The Bachelorette, it was so that I could meet Ellen DeGeneres.”

For years, DeGeneres was celebrated as one of television's most beloved figures. Known for her infectious humor, generosity and tagline, “Be kind to one another,” Elena became a symbol of warmth and positivity. However, in 2020, her carefully crafted public image began to crumble under the weight of serious allegations related to “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”

In July 2020, BuzzFeed News published a damning exposé describing a toxic work environment Backstage at DeGeneres' long-running talk show. Former and current staff spoke of pervasive fear, intimidation and a general culture of silence. Some described being punished for taking medical leave, attending funerals, or simply talking about workplace issues.

Accusations of racism also surfaced. A former black employee reported experiencing racist remarks and microaggressions, including jokes about her hairstyle and inappropriate language.

A subsequent investigation led to more serious allegations of sexual misconduct against key executive producers, including Ed Glavine, Kevin Lehman and Jonathan Norman. Allegations ranged from inappropriate touching to explicit comments and coercive behavior. The claims cast a deeply troubling picture of the show's management, raising questions about how such behavior had gone unchecked for so long.

While DeGeneres herself was not directly accused of harassment or misconduct, employees alleged that she was aware of the toxic culture and failed to address it. Others described her off-camera demeanor as cold, dismissive and vastly different from her bubbly on-screen persona.

In response to the allegations, DeGeneres issued a public apology, expressing regret and promising to make changes. Show studio Warner Bros. launched an internal investigation that led to the firing of senior producers Ed Glavin, Kevin Lehmann and Jonathan Norman.

Despite these measures, the damage to DeGeneres' reputation was undeniable. Ratings for “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” plummeted, and public trust in the host continued to erode.

in May 2021, she announced that her talk show would be ending after the 19th season. While she saw the decision as a desire to move on to new creative challenges, many believed the controversy played a significant role in her choice.