Ellen DeGeneres has revealed that she permanently relocated to the UK following Donald Trump’s re-election as US president, citing rising social and political conservatism in America. Speaking at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, the former talk show host confirmed that she and her wife Portia de Rossi initially intended to split their time between the US and UK but decided to stay after Trump’s victory.
“We woke up to crying emojis from friends, and I said, ‘He got in.’ So we stayed,” Ellen told the crowd. She praised the UK’s rural charm, clean environment, and respectful society, saying, “Everything here is just better… It’s a simpler way of life.”
DeGeneres, 67, also spoke candidly about her reasons for possibly remarrying in England, citing recent moves in the US to reverse the Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage. She criticized the Southern Baptist Convention’s support for rolling back LGBTQ+ rights, noting, “We’re already looking into getting married again here if that happens.”
In addition to politics, Ellen addressed the allegations of a toxic workplace culture that led to the cancellation of her long-running daytime talk show in 2022. She admitted to being “blunt” but rejected the “mean” label. “I know who I am. I’m empathetic and compassionate,” she said, expressing regret about how her show ended.
Despite the controversies, DeGeneres hasn’t ruled out a return to media and said she would “love to do” a British talk show. However, she doubts the traditional format still resonates in the smartphone era. “People aren’t really paying attention to television anymore,” she observed.
While her future remains uncertain, Ellen appears content in her new life in the Cotswolds complete with chickens and former sheep—and expressed hope that younger generations would lead the way toward greater inclusion. “They’re more fluid, more comfortable,” she said. “So I think the younger generation is going to show us the way.”
