Ellen DeGeneres has canceled several appearances on her 2024 “Ellen’s Last Stand… Up” comedy tour. The comedian, who began her multi-city stand-up tour in June, has left some fans disappointed after receiving notices that certain shows, including the one in Dallas, Texas, have been canceled.
A notice on the Ticketmaster website reads, “Unfortunately, the Event Organizer has had to cancel your event.” DeGeneres was scheduled to perform at the Music Hall at Fair Park in Dallas on Wednesday, July 10. Ticketmaster has assured fans that those who purchased tickets for the event will receive a refund to the original method of payment without needing to take any further action.
In addition to the Dallas show, Ticketmaster’s website indicates that the July 23 stop at S. Mark Taper Auditorium in Seattle, WA, and the Chicago Theatre appearance on August 11 have also been canceled. However, the Seattle date for July 22 and the Chicago dates for August 8 and 10 are still available.
Deadline has reached out to Live Nation for comment on the cancellations.
DeGeneres is next scheduled to perform her stand-up routine on July 8 at Denver, Colorado’s Paramount Theatre. The former daytime talk show host recently performed for a third consecutive night on Tuesday, July 2, at Santa Rosa, California’s Luther Burbank Center for the Arts.
During her set, DeGeneres addresses the controversy surrounding her daytime talk show. “Let me catch you up on what’s been going on with me since you last saw me. I got chickens,” she says, according to SFGate. “Oh yeah, and I got kicked out of show business for being mean.”
DeGeneres is referring to allegations that she had created a toxic work environment on her show. “I used to say, ‘I don’t care what people say about me.’ Now I realize I said that during the height of my popularity,” DeGeneres says during her comedy show. Later, she adds, “I am many things, but I am not mean.”
DeGeneres is set to return to Netflix with a new hour-long comedy special later this year, which she has announced will be her last one.
Ellen DeGeneres has long been known for her mantra of kindness, often ending her shows with the phrase, “Be kind to one another.” However, her actions have sometimes sparked controversy. For instance, she faced backlash after being seen attending an NFL game with former President George W. Bush. While some applauded her for promoting kindness and civility, others criticized her for associating with a figure they view as responsible for significant political and social harm.
“When I say, ‘Be kind to one another,’ I don’t mean only the people that think the same way I do. I mean be kind to everyone,” DeGeneres explained on her show. She went on to say that she is also friends with people who wear fur, even though she doesn’t believe in wearing fur.
This argument was met with mixed reactions. Some commentators found it irksome or infuriating, arguing that there is a significant difference between owning a mink coat and orchestrating a historic foreign policy failure. They suggested that there exists a sliding scale of badness determining who deserves complete and total cancellation.
DeGeneres’s brand of kindness has often been seen as a clever strategy to maintain her popularity. By being “kind to everyone,” she ensures that a wide range of guests feel welcome on her show, thereby broadening her appeal. This approach has helped her navigate the complex social dynamics of Hollywood and maintain her status as a beloved public figure.
However, this strategy has also drawn criticism. Some argue that DeGeneres’s version of kindness is more about convenience and self-benefit than genuine virtue. By avoiding conflict and maintaining relationships with powerful figures, she ensures her continued success and popularity.
In the world of politics, similar arguments about kindness, niceness, and civility are often made. Some believe that maintaining a polite demeanor is essential for getting things done, while others argue that it can sometimes mean compromising on important principles.
Ultimately, DeGeneres’s actions reflect a common human tendency to seek self-benefit, even when it means making controversial choices. While her brand of kindness has helped her maintain her popularity, it has also sparked debate about the true nature of kindness and the complexities of navigating public life.
Source: Deadline, SFGate
