'Ellen DeGeneres Show' Loses Sponsors, Viewers, Struggles To Book Guests Following Workplace Controversy

"The Ellen DeGeneres Show" is still battling the consequences of the misconduct workplace allegations that hit the show a few months ago.

Sources recently spoke with BuzzFeed News and shared that Ellen DeGeneres' talk show is having a hard time following the toxic workplace allegations. A current employee told the outlet that it has fewer advertisers and sponsors compared to the past years. Another insider who declined to be named said that the staffers aren't able to produce new content due to less advertising money, so they are recycling old video clips from the previous seasons.

"The Ellen Show" is usually very busy in December because everyone wants to be on the show. It has the "12 Days of Giveaways" segment in which the host gives gifts to the audience members. This year, it will be giving presents to the frontline workers, first responders, medical workers and families impacted by COVID-19. However, the gifts are too few compared to what the show offered in the past years.

"In a typical year, ‘12 Days of Giveaways’ is huge. We’ve basically claimed Christmas on daytime TV. When you think of Christmas on TV, you think of The Ellen Show," the current employee said.

"Everyone wants to be in the audience. Everyone wants the gifts. And so we line up all these crazy sponsors, and people love it. But this year, our ‘12 Days’ is more condensed. We don’t have as many sponsors."

Meanwhile, another insider said the "12 Days of Giveaways" segment was somehow affected by the pandemic. DeGeneres couldn't offer amazing trips like she used to due to travel restrictions.

"[Ellen’s] not giving away these amazing trips, which were sort of the hallmark of '12 Days' over the past few years, sending audiences to amazing places. There are travel restrictions and she’s giving gifts that are appropriate for the world right now," the source said.

"Maybe it looks and feels differently, but that's not a reflection on her or the business, but that’s directly impacted by the state of the world and the kind of show that’s being done now.”

Aside from having fewer sponsors, the show is allegedly having a hard time booking celebrities. Aside from regular guests like Justin Bieber, Jimmy Kimmel, the Kardashian-Jenner clan, the show is allegedly struggling to invite their other clients who no longer want to appear on the show. Those individuals don’t want to be part of DeGeneres' comeback, according to sources.

"I wouldn’t set up anyone on her show right now to do anything that could possibly cause them more negative headlines," one publicist told BuzzFeed News.

"You have to tread so carefully with your clients and your clients’ reputations, so you don't want to put your client in any line of fire sympathizing with someone that any community or anyone would feel bad about. We’re not going to align anyone with Ellen."

"The Ellen DeGeneres Show" also experienced a drop in viewership by about 37% from last season. Only 1.7 million average viewers watched season 18's premiere compared to 2.7 million people in season 17.

However, previous reports claimed that the season opening in September was on par with last year's premiere. The show even led the ad demo for female viewers aged 18 to 34.

In related news, DeGeneres won an award at the E! People's Choice Awards. "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" was named the best daytime talk show of 2020 and she thanked those involved in the production.

"From deep, deep down in my heart, I thank you. I am not only accepting this award for myself but on behalf of my amazing crew and staff who make the show possible," she said.

"They show up every single day, give 100 percent of themselves 100 percent of the time. That's 250 people times 170 shows a year, times 18 years, and if you carry the two and divide it by 11 -- my point is, I love them all. I thank them for what they do every single day to help that show be the best."