Comedian and LGBTQ+ icon Margaret Cho is speaking candidly about her decades-long, and often strained, relationship with fellow comedian and former daytime talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. In a recent appearance on The Kelly Mantle Show, Cho didn’t hold back as she described DeGeneres as “mean,” “really weird,” and dismissive over the course of their professional careers — despite knowing each other since the 1980s.
The conversation adds another layer to the ongoing reassessment of DeGeneres’ public image following the 2020 allegations of workplace toxicity on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which ultimately led to the show’s conclusion in 2022 and DeGeneres’ retirement from public life.
“She’s Mean”: Cho Opens Up About Her Long History with DeGeneres
During her interview with host Kelly Mantle, Cho reflected on the early years of her career when she and DeGeneres were both emerging comedians on the stand-up circuit. Cho revealed she even opened for DeGeneres in the ’80s, well before either comedian achieved mainstream fame. “Ellen was really weird and not nice to me for most of my career,” Cho said. “I opened for her in the 1980s, when she was a headliner in comedy clubs and way before her big fame. So then later, when I would do her talk show in the 2000s, she acted like we just met.”
Cho went on to describe DeGeneres as a “mean girl,” saying that while the Finding Dory star could sometimes be kind, there was always a chilly undertone in their interactions. “She’s mean,” Cho stated. “But also she would be real nice. I think she always had kind of negative feelings towards me because her girlfriends and wives always liked me.”
The comment hinted at underlying tension, potentially fueled by jealousy or professional rivalry. Cho, who has always been an unapologetic and outspoken queer performer, has often spoken out against exclusion within queer spaces — and her remarks suggest that her dynamic with DeGeneres may be a prime example.
Forgotten Friendship or Intentional Snub?
Cho also took issue with what she described as DeGeneres pretending not to know her, despite their shared history. “I’m like, bitch, what? Like, that’s weird,” Cho said. “We go way back. It’s so creepy and weird.”
For Cho, this behavior wasn’t just baffling — it felt personal. She explained that when she appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show years later, DeGeneres acted as though they were strangers. The erasure of their professional past, combined with an overall cold demeanor, left Cho feeling dismissed and disrespected.
A representative for DeGeneres did not respond to requests for comment at the time of publication.
A Deleted David Bowie Moment Adds Fuel to the Fire
One of Cho’s most vivid grievances centers around a cut segment from an appearance she made on DeGeneres’ talk show during an episode that also featured David Bowie. Cho recalled attending Bowie’s concert the night before in an elaborate Chinese emperor outfit — a look that Bowie adored and reportedly praised on the show.
But that praise never made it to air. “He was really thrilled about it and he talked at length about it. And she cut it out of the show, which made me so mad,” Cho revealed.
According to Cho, the decision wasn’t editorial but potentially personal. A producer friend later confirmed to her that Bowie had enthusiastically mentioned her on the show — only to have it cut before the episode aired. “The producer, who is a really good friend of mine, had to call me and tell me, ‘I can’t believe she did this, she cut it out of the show. But you need to know, he was going on and on about your outfit. He loves you. God said your name,’” Cho explained.
While Cho acknowledged that time constraints may have played a role in the decision, she admitted she couldn’t help but take it personally. “I don’t know if it was personal, maybe it was for time,” she said. “But still, I’m going to take it personally just because I decided to.”
The Broader Context: Ellen’s Complicated Legacy
Cho’s comments come at a time when the public continues to grapple with DeGeneres’ complicated legacy. Once hailed as a trailblazer for LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream media — especially after famously coming out in 1997 — DeGeneres’ reputation took a significant hit in 2020. Former staff members of The Ellen Show alleged a toxic and hostile work environment, leading to an internal investigation, a public apology from DeGeneres, and the eventual cancellation of her long-running show.
For many in the LGBTQ+ community, DeGeneres had been a symbol of resilience and visibility. But stories from fellow performers like Cho add further nuance to how that legacy is perceived — especially when it comes to how Ellen treated others within the queer creative space.
A Pattern or an Outlier?
Margaret Cho is not the first celebrity to speak out about an icy or dismissive interaction with Ellen DeGeneres. Over the years, a handful of stars and comedians have alluded to similar feelings — that DeGeneres’ public persona did not always match her off-camera demeanor.
Still, Cho’s remarks stand out because of her long, personal history with DeGeneres and her fearless reputation for calling out power structures, even within the queer community.
“The Public Perception Is More True Now”
Reflecting on the broader fallout surrounding DeGeneres’ career, Cho summarized her feelings with a quiet, damning observation: “She’s somebody that I’ve known for such a long time,” Cho said. “And the public perception of her is more true now.”
Whether Cho’s words will spark renewed scrutiny or a broader conversation about inclusion, competition, and kindness within queer spaces remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: for Margaret Cho, the truth — no matter how uncomfortable — is always worth sharing.
Watch Cho’s full appearance on The Kelly Mantle Show online now.
