The Ellen DeGeneres Show has only been back a few weeks and already the embattled host is involved in a fresh controversy
Her show has only been back a few weeks, and already Ellen DeGeneres is involved in yet more backlash after grilling Justin Bieber on when he and wife Hailey will have children.
Having battled controversy after controversy this year, DeGeneres has stirred up more drama over her treatment of Bieber in an episode of The Ellen Degeneres Show‘s 18th season.
Her line of questioning began when she asked Bieber: “How many kids are you going to have and when?”
The singer responded: “I’m going to have as many as Hailey is wishing to push out. I’d love to have myself a little tribe. But, yeah, it’s her body and whatever she wants to do.”
He said that the couple want a “few” children, but DeGeneres kept pushing, asking: “What are you all waiting for? You know you love kids. You’re so good with kids. What’s the holdup?”
Appearing uncomfortable, Bieber, 26, said of his wife who is 24 years old: “I think the issue – there’s not really an issue, but I think Hailey still has some things she wants to accomplish as a woman.
“And I think she just wants to – yeah, I think she just is not ready yet, and I think that’s okay.”
Viewers took to social media to criticise the interview, pointing out that for many, children and fertility can be a very sensitive topic.
One wrote: “Okay so I don’t follow their drama or whatever but Ellen was grilling Justin Bieber about when he and Hailey are gonna have kids and like…COULD ELLEN NOT?!?!?!”
Okay so I don’t follow their drama or whatever but Ellen was grilling Justin Bieber about when he and Hailey are gonna have kids and like…COULD ELLEN NOT?!?!?!
— Courtney ? (@cstratOHMY) December 1, 2020
“STOP DOING THIS,” said another. “Seriously, it’s uncomfortable, especially if someone WANTS one but can’t or has had a miscarriage, etc. There’s more to being married or in a long term relationship than having babies. Stop asking.”
STOP DOING THIS. seriously, its uncomfortable, especially if someone WANTS one but can't or has had a miscarriage, etc. There's more to being married or in a long term relationship than having babies. Stop ? asking ?#EllenDeGeneres #Bieber https://t.co/53Mby0ocH3— Mikayla Ruby (@xXyoungrebelXx) December 2, 2020
Wow. Even if you think it's funny, it's not. What if they had been trying and didn't want to talk about it? Can we stop asking families when they're going to have kids? @TheEllenShow https://t.co/qqPdWezf7X— Liz Gold (@LizPalmerGold) December 1, 2020
One person tweeted: “Wow. Even if you think it’s funny, it’s not. What if they had been trying and didn’t want to talk about it? Can we stop asking families when they’re going to have kids?”
I thought @TheEllenShow had learned HER lesson. You’re not a journalist. By the awkwardness seen in @justinbieber face, you crossed the line again, like with @MariahCarey
Stop your shit. We have enough mean in the world. We don’t need Ellen adding to it! #StopTheMean pic.twitter.com/HQPIF9gDel— Kavin #MustWinGeorgiaSenate (@TheOnlyKAVIN) December 1, 2020
Others recalled a 2008 interview with Mariah Carey on DeGeneres’s show, in which the host pushed the pop queen into revealing a pregnancy she later miscarried, pressuring her to sip champagne to “toast not being pregnant”.
One person wrote: “I thought Ellen had learned her lesson… By the awkwardness seen in Justin Bieber’s face, you crossed the line again, like with Mariah Carey.”
