AceShowbiz - Ellen DeGeneres, known for her once-celebrated talk show "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," has withdrawn from the public eye since allegations of a toxic workplace surfaced in 2020. Now, in her new Netflix special, "For Your Approval," the 66-year-old comedian reflects on her experience with a blend of vulnerability and humor.

In the special, DeGeneres confronts the fallout from the scandal head-on. "I got kicked out of show business because I'm mean," she quips early on. The special, part of her farewell stand-up tour "Ellen's Last Stand," takes a deep dive into her struggles with the intense public scrutiny that followed.

DeGeneres openly discusses how the headlines, reading "How Ellen DeGeneres became the most hated person in America," impacted her mental health. "I was in therapy for a while trying to deal with all the hatred that was coming at me," she admits.

"At one point, my therapist said, 'Ellen, where do you get this idea that everyone hates you?' And I said, 'Well, New York Times, Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly, Us Weekly,' " she said before quipping, "I think Elmo may have said something recently on an episode of Sesame Street."

The controversy initially erupted from a BuzzFeed News report, which detailed accusations of racism, fear, and intimidation behind the scenes of her show. Warner Bros. subsequently conducted an investigation and fired three high-level producers. While DeGeneres apologized to her staff and addressed the allegations on air, her show eventually concluded in 2022 after 19 seasons.

DeGeneres uses humor to cope with the severe accusations, even suggesting that her show's "be kind to one another" tagline may have created unrealistic expectations of her. "Had I ended my show by saying, 'Go f*** yourselves,' people would have been pleasantly surprised to find out I'm kind," she jokes.

Throughout the special, DeGeneres takes responsibility for her role by acknowledging she was an "immature boss" but stops short of another public apology. "I didn't go to business school, I went to Charlie's Chuckle Hut," she says, illustrating how her comedic career didn't prepare her for the responsibilities of running a large-scale production.

The special also reflects on her past hurdles, including her decision to come out as gay in 1997, which led to significant career setbacks. "People in show business - they kick you out," she says. "Eventually they're going to kick me out a third time for being old, mean, old and gay. The triple crown."

DeGeneres ends on a reflective note, considering her legacy and the importance of not letting others' opinions dominate one's mental health. "Caring what people think to a degree is healthy, but not if it affects your mental health," she says, earning a standing ovation from her audience.

As Ellen takes her final bow, she chooses to leave behind not just the controversy, but a life lesson for all, "If I have a choice of people remembering me as someone who was mean or someone who was beloved... I choose that."