Ellen can’t talk about being lesbian, claims star
When Ellen DeGeneres came out ten years ago in an episode of her self-titled sitcom, she made history.
She scored a ratings landslide and almost instantly became a target of the Christian Right.
Her series was cancelled a year later due to sagging ratings.
Ellen’s back on top of the rating’s heap thanks to her Emmy-winning daytime talk show, but to hear comedian Rosie O’Donnell tell it, that might have something to do with the fact that she’s contractually forbidden from talking about gay issues on the air.
Rosie’s making waves again, this time in a video blog response to a reader’s e-mail on her official website.
The fan asked Rosie why she constantly talks about being gay on talk show The View while Ellen never mentions it.
O’Donnell explains:
“Ellen’s not allowed to (talk about gay issues). She signed a contract that said she wouldn’t. It was on the heels of my show. Right? So that’s why she doesn’t!
“But, you know what? She also paved the way for a lot of gay people, especially on TV.
“There were no gay shows on TV. She was before Will Grace, remember that.
“So, you know, I talk about ‘gay’ because I like to and she doesn’t talk about it because she doesn’t want to or she can’t. But, who cares? It’s fine. Gay Gay Gay Gay Gay!”
A later comment on Rosie’s blog appeared to state that Ellen’s publicist denied that any such constraint on Ellen existed.
Producers for The Ellen Degeneres Show told TMZ:
“Ellen is free to talk about whatever she wants and we encourage her to do so.”
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