Ellen DeGeneres’ ‘mean’ reputation became the target of Seth MacFarlane’s jabs at Robin Hood’s annual charity gala at the Javits Center on Monday.
The Family Guy creator, 51, roasted a number of stars at the event, including DeGeneres, 67, whose talk show was canceled in 2022, following a toxic workplace scandal that tarnished her reputation as TV’s favorite host.
Taking a dig at DeGeneres, MacFarlane joked about her leaving the United States for Europe after President Donald Trump won office, according to Page Six.
He quipped that DeGeneres ‘left right after the election, and now she’s the nicest person in France.’
Following the election last year, DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, 52, relocated to the UK.
During a stand-up show last year, DeGeneres addressed the claims of her being mean, explaining, ‘I can be demanding and impatient and tough. I am a strong woman. I am many things, but I am not mean.’

Ellen DeGeneres’, 67, ‘mean’ reputation became the target of Seth MacFarlane’s, 51, jabs at Robin Hood’s annual charity gala at the Javits Center on Monday; she is seen in 2016

The Family Guy creator roasted a number of stars, including DeGeneres, whose talk show was canceled in 2022, following a toxic workplace scandal; he is seen in 2023
DeGeneres’ scandal was sparked by a single tweet penned by comedian Kevin T. Porter in March 2020 asking people for the ‘most insane stories you’ve heard about Ellen being mean,’ which amassed 2,600 replies.
Four months later, BuzzFeed News published an exposé featuring one current and 10 former employees of the Louisiana-born funnywoman’s former self-titled daytime talk show alleging racism, workplace bullying, and sexual harassment.
By August 2020, WarnerMedia had launched an internal investigation, Ellen had issued a formal apology to her 255 employees, and executive producers Ed Glavin, Kevin Leman, and Jonathan Norman were all fired from the show.
DeGeneres – who also apologized to fans on air – broadcast her final episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show on May 26, 2022 after 19 seasons.
She later branded it a ‘coordinated misogynistic’ attack on her.
She previously told The Hollywood Reporter, ‘I have to just trust that whatever happened during that time, which was obviously very, very difficult, happened for a reason.
‘I think that I learned a lot, and there were some things that came up that I was shocked and surprised by. It was eye-opening, but I just trust that that had to happen.’
She stepped in front of the camera once again for her 2024 Netflix special titled Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval.
However upon its release, the project garnered mainly mixed to negative reviews and garnered a score of 33% on Rotten Tomatoes.

He joked about her leaving the United States for Europe after President Donald Trump’s election, saying she ‘left right after the election, and now she’s the nicest person in France’

Following the election last year, DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, 52, relocated to the UK; they are seen in 2021

During a stand-up show last year, DeGeneres addressed the claims of her being mean, explaining, ‘I can be demanding and impatient and tough. I am a strong woman. I am many things, but I am not mean’; Seen in 2019

The Ellen DeGeneres Show went off the air in 2022 after 19 seasons on NBC

Ellen recently shared a glimpse into farm life as she tended to her garden and fed chickens after moving to the English countryside
Ellen and Portia seem to have settled into their new home, and recently shared snippets of their day-to-day life on the farm, after moving to the English countryside.
The pair relocated to a different property near Oxfordshire after their Cotswolds home suffered severe flooding shortly after moving in.
Last month in April, she snapped a photo while standing behind Portia as they looked out at the scenic view of the countryside and a double rainbow following a rainfall.
‘3 things that make me happy: My Wife A Rainbow And my wife taking a photograph of a Rainbow,’ she wrote.
The couple – who tied the knot in 2008 – opted to move into an $18 million house in the Cotswolds area in the U.K. late last year.
The reason the pair chose to relocate to the British countryside rather than Portia’s home country of Australia was soon revealed.
A source explained to New Idea, ‘Ellen wants to continue with her comedy work, and there is a huge scene in Britain.
‘Sitting back and chilling on a beach in Australia is for when she’s ready to retire and Ellen’s not there yet.’
Meanwhile, elsewhere during his set, Seth took aim at country star Keith Urban, who performed several songs at the event.
MacFarlane quipped that he had to occupy ten minutes of airtime while the crew ‘sweep Keith Urban’s coke off the stage.’

Elsewhere during his set, Seth took aim at country star Keith Urban. He quipped that he had to occupy ten minutes of airtime while the crew ‘sweep Keith Urban’s coke off the stage.’ Urban has publicly spoken about his past addiction issues and his two stays in rehab; seen in 2025
Urban has publicly spoken about his past addiction issues and his two stays in rehab.
MacFarlane — whose estimated net worth is around $300 million — also joked that he was ‘the poorest guy here’ as he performed in a room full of Wall Street and tech magnates, including Michael Bloomberg, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and philanthropist Laurie M. Tisch.
The Weeknd concluded the show with a performance that lasted an hour.
The Robin Hood Foundation raised more than $72 million to combat poverty in New York City.