Kalen Allen has recently shared his reflections on the conclusion of *The Ellen DeGeneres Show* and its aftermath, acknowledging both gratitude and personal challenge stemming from his time on the iconic daytime programme. In an interview on the podcast *With Love with Ty Cole*, Allen revealed the significant difficulties he faced in securing work following the show’s end in May 2022.
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Allen, a comedian and actor who made multiple appearances on *The Ellen DeGeneres Show* and hosted his own YouTube series, OMKalen, was vocal about the impact of the controversies that surrounded the show. Two years prior to its finale, a BuzzFeed News exposé detailed claims of employee mistreatment, prompting widespread discussions about the workplace environment behind the scenes. Ellen DeGeneres herself, now 68, described these allegations as “the opposite of what I believe and what I hoped for our show.”
Reflecting on his own experiences, Allen, who is 30 years old, expressed a mixed sense of appreciation and caution. “What I am grateful for is, while I was watching it and learning how to do it, I was also watching and learning how not to do it,” he stated, highlighting the lessons gleaned from both the positive aspects and the missteps he observed throughout his time there. However, he admitted that the fallout from the show’s controversies felt like a “scarlet letter” for those associated with it. He commented, “It became so much about tearing her down, that people didn’t realise it was also really hurting everybody that was there.”
Allen further revealed the professional repercussions he faced after the show ended, stating that it took “forever for people to even book me for stuff.” He shared a particularly frustrating encounter where a producer once associated with Ellen’s show dismissed him for being “just a little too close to Ellen,” leading him to question why his time was being wasted in such discussions.
As he looked back on his journey, Allen recalled his initial days on *The Ellen DeGeneres Show*, which led him to a crucial realisation about his career aspirations. He reminisced about saying to a producer, “All I know is, I don’t want to be 30 years old still talking about food videos.” Upon turning 30, he made a conscious decision to embrace a broader spectrum of his identity and talents. Although he doesn’t focus on food videos as much anymore, he has successfully diversified his career.
Since leaving *The Ellen DeGeneres Show*, Allen has continued to thrive in the entertainment industry. He has appeared in projects such as *A Black Lady Sketch Show* and has explored various roles in film, including *An American Pickle* and *Meet Me Next Christmas*. Additionally, he has taken on a new role as the host for *FOX Reality Check* on YouTube, thus expanding his horizons in the digital space.
Ellen DeGeneres, on the other hand, faced her own challenges following the conclusion of her talk show. In her 2024 stand-up special, *Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval*, she addressed the fallout from the show, stating that she felt “kicked out of show business” for being “mean.” She reflected on the emotional toll of the controversy, explaining, “It took a long time for me to want to do anything again,” and expressed her discontent with how her show concluded, stating she had “hated the way the show ended” given her adoration for it.
The show, which became a staple of daytime television, reached its final episode on May 26, 2022. The earlier revelations of a toxic work environment raised difficult questions for DeGeneres, although specific allegations against her were absent from the reports. However, former employees alleged that the production team concealed workplace complaints from DeGeneres. In a joint statement, the executive producers claimed to take the employees’ stories seriously.
Kalen Allen’s candid insights into his experiences following the end of *The Ellen DeGeneres Show* underscore the complex legacy of the programme and its impact on those who worked within it. In navigating both the lessons learned and the hurdles faced, Allen serves as a reminder of the challenges within the entertainment industry, particularly during times of intense scrutiny and change.