Ellen DeGeneres Fled the Country — Here's Why That Matters

Ellen DeGeneres in Los Angeles, CA in 2011. Photo by Glenn Francis under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Ellen DeGeneres vanished from Hollywood — and popped up in the English countryside with rainbows, chickens, and a pub visit. Meanwhile, Rosie O'Donnell is in Ireland, baffled, blindsided, and not holding back. What started as a quiet relocation is now turning into something much juicier — a long-running feud with fresh fuel.

Two comedy icons. Two continents. One messy history that refuses to go away.

Ellen's Exit: From Talk Show Queen to Country Recluse

Ellen DeGeneres didn't announce a grand departure. Instead, she quietly packed her bags in late 2024 and settled into the British countryside with wife Portia de Rossi. The couple found their dream home after a quick October house hunt, and by November, they were spotted sipping drinks at a pub in the celebrity-heavy Cotswolds region — owned by none other than Jeremy Clarkson.

According to PEOPLE, Ellen made the move shortly after unloading one of her final U.S. properties, though she still owns a home stateside — complete with a chicken sitter looking after her flock.

Officially, Ellen hasn't explained the reason behind her move. According to Vanity Fair, friends were told her decision was tied to the 2024 election and the current Trump administration.

Rosie's Reaction: Surprised, Suspicious, and Not Exactly Sympathetic

Rosie O'Donnell, who relocated to Ireland in early 2025, said she was "shocked" to hear Ellen had made a similar move. What confused her most? That Ellen — long known for sidestepping political controversy — would allegedly flee the U.S. over politics.

"I've never really known Ellen to say anything political in her life, so I was surprised to read that she left because of President Trump. Like, that shocked me, actually," O'Donnell told the outlet. "I've been a political person my whole life, not better or worse, it's just a different way to be in the world," as reported by PEOPLE.

Rosie made it clear: she left because of Trump.

Ellen, she said, has never shown any serious interest in politics. So, hearing that Ellen's move might be politically motivated caught her completely off guard.

Even with that jab, Rosie tried to keep the peace. She said the two aren't close, haven't resolved their issues, and don't live in each other's worlds. But her surprise and subtle shading made one thing obvious — this feud isn't dead.

The History: A Deep Cut That Never Healed

Their friction goes back decades, and it all started with a moment on live television.

In 2004, during an appearance on Larry King Live, Ellen distanced herself from Rosie in a way that hit hard. When King brought up Rosie's career and asked about their relationship, Ellen responded that she didn't really know her — that they weren't friends.

Rosie watched the moment from her bedroom and couldn't believe what she was hearing. To her, they were friends. They'd worked in the same comedy circles since the '90s. Rosie had even helped Ellen prepare for her coming out by writing a joke together on The Rosie O'Donnell Show — a moment Rosie thought cemented their bond.

After that Larry King moment, the friendship froze.

In the years that followed, Ellen's show exploded in popularity. Rosie claims that Ellen even hired multiple people from her former staff, including key producers. When Rosie asked to promote a project on Ellen's show, she was reportedly turned down. That rejection stung enough that she vowed never to appear — and stuck to it.

Ellen's Reputation Shift: From Kindness to Controversy

Ellen's legacy hasn't just been challenged by Rosie. Her public persona — built on kindness — took a major hit in 2020, when BuzzFeed News and Variety published reports from staffers describing a toxic work environment on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

The allegations included racism, intimidation, and sexual harassment by senior producers. While Ellen wasn't directly accused of misconduct, the culture on her set — run under her name and brand — was called into question. Some former employees even claimed Ellen knew about the issues but ignored them.

The fallout was massive. Ellen eventually apologized to her staff and admitted the show had lost its way. But the damage to her image was done.

And then came the viral moment with Dakota Johnson. In an interview, Ellen accused the actress of not inviting her to a birthday party. Johnson corrected her on-air — and producers confirmed it. What could have been a light exchange turned into a PR mess, exposing Ellen's off-screen contradictions.

A Very Different Kind of Goodbye

Ellen's goodbye was quiet. Her move was sudden. And her motivations — whether personal, political, or just fatigue — remain her own. But Rosie's response opened up a bigger conversation.

What happens when two comedy icons with shared history, shared communities, and similar career arcs end up on opposite sides of the ocean — and still can't see eye to eye?

Rosie insists she doesn't want a fight. She says she wishes Ellen the best. But her words carry the weight of years of resentment. And for anyone paying attention, that polite posture doesn't quite hide the history.

What's Next for Ellen and Rosie?

Ellen is living the quiet life, surrounded by her wife, her chickens, and picturesque double rainbows in the English countryside. She still shares glimpses of her new life on Instagram, but for the most part, she's kept a low profile since ending her show.

Rosie, meanwhile, is thriving in Ireland — politically active, candid as ever, and unafraid to speak her mind. Her TikTok updates and interviews show no signs of retreat.

In the end, it may not matter who moved where or why. What matters is that neither woman seems ready to forget. And that's what makes this Hollywood comedy feud — now a transatlantic standoff — so fascinating.

References: Rosie O'Donnell Says She's 'Shocked' Ellen DeGeneres Relocated to the U.K. — Here’s Why | How Ellen DeGeneres's Facade of Kindness Crumbled | The Rosie O'Donnell and Ellen DeGeneres Feud, Explained | Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi 'Get the Hell Out' of the US Because of Trump