Ellen DeGeneres is taking her final bow in the world of stand-up comedy with the release of her new Netflix special, *Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval*, premiering on September 24th. The 66-year-old comedian and former talk show host made the announcement on Instagram, letting fans know that this would be her last stand-up special.
Earlier this year, DeGeneres revealed that she would be returning to Netflix for an hour-long set, marking her first stand-up special since 2018’s *Relatable*.
This time, however, she’s hinted that it will be her final performance, reflecting on her decades-long career in both comedy and television. She’s also expected to address the end of *The Ellen DeGeneres Show* and the controversies that surrounded its final seasons.
Over the summer, DeGeneres hit the stage in a series of smaller, intimate shows across California to work on material for this special. At a packed show in the San Francisco Bay area, DeGeneres didn’t shy away from tackling the elephant in the room: her departure from daytime TV following allegations of a toxic workplace environment on her hit show.
In 2020, a damning report from BuzzFeed highlighted claims of intimidation and misconduct behind the scenes of *The Ellen Show*, casting a shadow over her once-beloved program.
“Let me catch you up on what’s been going on with me since you last saw me,” DeGeneres quipped during one of her summer performances. “I got chickens. Oh yeah, and I got kicked out of show business for being mean.” That self-deprecating humor is likely to be a central theme in *For Your Approval*, as Ellen navigates the complex aftermath of her public fall from grace.
In true Ellen fashion, she managed to find humor even in the most challenging moments of her career. She reminded her audience that this wasn’t the first time she had faced rejection in the entertainment world, referring to the backlash she received in 1997 when she came out as a lesbian. “Next time, I’ll be kicked out for being old. Old, gay, and mean—the triple crown,” she joked.
Though she acknowledged her strong personality, DeGeneres was quick to defend herself, insisting that while she may be tough and demanding, she isn’t inherently mean. “I am many things, but I am not mean,” she declared, offering a glimpse into the kind of candid, introspective humor we can expect in her final special.
*For Your Approval* marks a significant chapter in DeGeneres’ career, as she bids farewell to a life on stage and screen. This Netflix special will give fans one last chance to see the comedian doing what she does best—making people laugh, even when the joke is on her.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or tuning in out of curiosity, Ellen’s last stand-up set is sure to be an unforgettable ride.
