Ellen DeGeneres will mark her TV comeback this month with the release of a new documentary. We return to our screens in Gorilla Rescue: Ellen’s Next Adventurethe one-off special will air Saturday, September 23rd at 8:00 PM ET/PT on the Discovery Channel.
© DiscoveryEllen DeGeneres stars in a new documentary
“What begins as Portia de Rossi’s simple desire to think of a nice birthday present for her wife, Ellen DeGeneres, turns into something bigger than anyone could have imagined,” the synopsis reads.
“The couple embarked on one of the largest architectural and landscape projects in Rwanda’s history, only to face challenges like volcanoes, earthquakes and a global pandemic. It all culminates in a once-in-a-lifetime experience for them, their family and friends as they celebrate opening of the Ellen DeGeneres Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund campus.
© Photo: Getty ImagesEllen will be joined by her wife Portia in the documentary
“It’s an adventure filled with laughter, tears and experiences none of them ever dreamed they’d have. At the center is Ellen, who does things that not only change the lives of hundreds of others, but affect entire nations and give mountain gorillas hope for survival greater than they ever had before.”
The upcoming documentary will mark Ellen’s final TV appearance, following the cancellation of the talk show of the same name, which ended in May 2022.
WATCH: Ellen DeGeneres’ final farewell
Ahead of the show’s final episode, Ellen told The Hollywood Reporter that she had been preparing her decision to end the series for several years. “When you’re a creative person, you need to be challenged all the time — and as great and fun as this show is, it’s not a challenge anymore,” she said in 2021.
The star said goodbye to her talk show in May 2022
Ellen’s decision to step down follows a tumultuous period in which the star and others involved with the show have been accused of creating a toxic work environment. BuzzFeed News‘ In 2020, an interview with 11 different employees, all of whom chose to remain anonymous, further fueled allegations of abuse and harassment in the media sphere.
MORE: Ellen DeGeneres wishes Portia De Rossi a happy 15th wedding anniversary in the most touching way possible
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Speaking about reports of toxicity on set, Ellen said The Hollywood Reporter: “It hurt a lot. I mean, a lot. But if I was leaving the show because of that, I wouldn’t have come back this season. So that’s not why I’m quitting, but it was hard because I was sitting at home alone, it was summer , and I see a story where people have to chew gum before they talk to me and I’m like, ‘Okay, this is funny.’ Then I saw another story about some other funny thing and then it just didn’t stop.”
Ellen recalled being devastated after learning that staff members felt the show had a toxic working environment
She continued: “I care immensely. It broke my heart to learn that people here have had anything but a fantastic experience – that people have been hurt in any way. Now I’m calling as much as I can via Zoom to different departments, and I’ve made sure is for people to know that if there’s ever a question or anything they can come to me, and I don’t know why that was never considered before.
“I’m not a scary person. I’m really easy to talk to. So we’ve all learned from things that we didn’t realize – or I didn’t realize – were happening. I just want people to believe and know that I am who I say I am.”
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Source: HIS Education