Wow, can you believe it’s been so long? Ellen DeGeneres has become such a beloved figure in Hollywood, thanks to her iconic daytime talk show and her larger-than-life personality. But many fans are still curious about when exactly this trailblazing star came out as gay. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit that historic moment.
Here’s the thing: it’s been over two decades since Ellen made history! On April 30, 1997, Ellen DeGeneres boldly came out as gay during an episode of her sitcom, Ellen. Two weeks before that, she made waves by appearing on the cover of Time magazine with the bold headline, “Yep, I’m Gay.” Talk about making a statement!
Ellen’s Big Moment: The Puppy Episode
During the now-famous episode, Ellen’s character, Ellen Morgan, had a heart-to-heart with guest star Laura Dern. In a scene that left viewers breathless, Ellen’s character made a confession that would change her life forever. “This is so hard,” she admitted. “I think I realized that I am… I can’t even say the word. Why can’t I say the word? What’s wrong with me? Why do I have to be so ashamed? Why can’t I just say the truth?” And then, in a moment that felt both raw and real, she grabbed the microphone and blurted out, “Susan, I’m gay.”
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Laura Dern, who played Susan, later spoke about the significance of that scene. “I remember feeling like I was holding Ellen up through this incredibly emotional moment,” she recalled. “It was profound. I feel so blessed to have been there and to witness something so groundbreaking.”
Reflecting on the Impact
Ellen herself never expected the episode, which fans affectionately call “The Puppy Episode,” to resonate the way it did. In a candid interview with Oprah Winfrey back in 1997, she admitted, “I knew it would be big, but I had no idea it would be THIS big.” And big it was—nearly 50 million people tuned in to watch that historic moment. That’s more than the Super Bowl, folks!
Fast forward to 2016, and Ellen was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by then-President Barack Obama. During a heartfelt reflection, Oprah shared, “President Obama wouldn’t have said those wonderful things about you if you hadn’t had the courage to come out. You opened hearts, touched lives, and made a difference in the world. That’s the power of truth.”
Ellen and Portia: A Love Story
Of course, we can’t talk about Ellen’s journey without mentioning her incredible relationship with Portia de Rossi. The two have been together for over a decade, and their love story is as inspiring as it is real. Portia once posted a throwback photo of the two, captioning it, “We’ve been together so long that not only do we look like kids in this picture, but it was taken with a camera!” How cute is that?
View this post on InstagramWe've been together so long that not only do we look like kids in this picture, but it was taken with a camera! Happy 9th, Thing.
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Ellen’s journey has been nothing short of inspiring. From her groundbreaking moment on TV to her life with Portia, she’s shown the world the power of authenticity and courage. And let’s not forget, she’s also one of the funniest people on the planet!
