Chat show host Ellen DeGeneres has been accused of ‘ bullying ‘ singer Mariah Carey in a resurfaced video as a star of the Channel Nine network reviewed the footage.
Mariah had told Vulture that she was pregnant at the time of the interview in 2008 and wasn’t ready to announce it yet but Ellen had other ideas.
She decided to ask Mariah to drink alcohol, knowing that her refusal would ‘confirm’ that the rumours were true and that she was really pregnant.
The now 50-year-old performer said that she was made to feel “extremely uncomfortable” at the time by the host, who has been under fire over the “toxic” atmosphere backstage on the show.
The footage was reviewed by one of the channel’s biggest stars, Sylvia Jeffreys, who launched a blistering attack on the 62-year-old comedian.
Speaking to her Today Extra co-host David Campbell, Sylvia was appalled by what she saw.
She said after the interview was played: “Oh it’s awful, it’s ugly, ugly behaviour.
“And if she was not in on the joke, which she says she is not, then Ellen really has some explaining to do on that one.”
Sylvia continued: “You cannot put a woman in that position.
“That’s maybe the ugliest thing I’ve seen in this whole saga so far… that’s a clear case of bullying.”
In the interview with Vulture, Mariah said she “had a hard time grappling with the aftermath.”
There were already questions raised about the future of Ellen on Channel Nine after her show was pulled at the last minute and replaced by Desperate Housewives.
With WarnerMedia conducting an internal investigation into accusations of racism, bullying and sexual harassment behind the scenes made by former employees, Channel Nine decided to pull Ellen’s show from the schedules.
A spokesperson for the Australian network said on Monday: “We are resting Ellen repeats on Nine and have replaced with Desperate Housewives.”
Discussions between Nine and Warner Bros. regarding broadcast rights for the upcoming season, which begins next month, are said to be “ongoing”.
