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Ellen DeGeneres tests positive for coronavirus, halts show.

"I’m feeling fine right now," says talk show host as a rough 2020 is not yet over.

Ellen DeGeneres has tested positive for COVID-19, and production on her talk show will be paused until January.

“Hi Everyone, I want to let you all know that I tested positive for Covid-19. Fortunately, I’m feeling fine right now. Anyone who has been in close contact with me has been notified, and I am following all proper CDC guidelines,” she wrote on Twitter. I’ll see you all again after the holidays. Please stay healthy and safe,” she added.

California has recorded more than 101,000 new cases in the past 72 hours and its highest weekly death toll of the pandemic.

A spokesperson confirmed production would be halted until January. The past seven days have been its deadliest of the pandemic, and there were more than 30,000 new infections for the third straight day.

2020 has been an annus horribilis for the host including an internal investigation after allegations of racism, sexual misconduct and other workplace problems. Three top producers were fired after staff raised complaints about poor communication, pay reductions and mistreatment.

The shutdown comes as ratings hit their highest rating since May during the week as part of the show’s annual “12 Days of Giveaways” series.

But BuzzFeed also published a story this week that the show is floundering in its attempts to book top-tier talent after the summer story on the show’s workplace culture and is losing advertisers. The story additionally reports that ratings have declined 37 percent since the prior season. The show has had 1.65 million daily viewers so far this season, and is the No. 3 syndicated talk show behind Live With Kelly and Ryan and Dr. Phil.

Ellen screens in Australia on Nine and FOX Arena.

Source: Variety, Hollywood Reporter

7 Responses

  1. While I certainly wish her a full and speedy recovery, there’s a part of me that things this isn’t real and is just an attempt to divert attention from the real story.

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