Ellen DeGeneres Tests Positive for COVID-19

Ellen DeGeneres has tested positive for COVID-19, the television personality revealed Thursday afternoon. DeGeneres, 62, does not appear to have serious symptoms, but she will be isolating until after the holidays as a precaution.

“Hi Everyone, I wanted to let you all know that I tested positive for COVID-19,” she wrote in a note shared to Twitter. “Fortunately, I’m feeling fine right now. Anyone who has been in contact with me has been notified, and I am following proper CDC guidelines. I’ll see you all again after the holidays. Please stay healthy and safe.”

Since September, DeGeneres has hosted her daytime talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, live from the studio. Guests have appeared both virtually and in person. Yesterday, Hamilton star Leslie Odom Jr. joined DeGeneres in person to present the show’s annual 12 Days of Giveaways event, which was then on its eleventh day.

According to Variety, a spokesperson for Telepictures, The Ellen DeGeneres Show‘s production company, says that production on the daytime show has been “paused” until January. Until then, The Ellen DeGeneres Show will likely air re-runs during its syndicated time slot.

DeGeneres’ COVID-19 diagnosis caps a difficult year for the television personality. Over the summer, allegations surfaced about the daytime show’s toxic culture, with multiple former employees claiming that producers turned a blind eye to racism and sexual harassment. As a result, three top producers were fired in August, and DeGeneres apologized to viewers during the Season 18 premiere on September 21.

“I learned that things happened here that never should have happened. I take that very seriously and I want to say I am so sorry to the people who were affected,” DeGeneres said at the time. “I know that I’m in a position of privilege and power and I realized that with that comes responsibility, and I take responsibility for what happens at my show.