Margaret Cho reveals Ellen DeGeneres pretended not to know her despite 40 years of shared comedy history.
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Cho reveals decades of Ellen’s cold behavior
Oh brother, Margaret Cho is not hiding anything about Ellen DeGeneres.
In a candid conversation that’s grabbing everyone’s attention, Cho revealed how the once-popular talk show host ignored her for years.
“We’re old friends” – The early days
In the ’80s comedy scene, Cho actually used to be the opening act for DeGeneres in clubs across the country.
Imagine that: two up-and-coming comedians toiling on stage night after night. You’d think that would create a bond, right? Wrong!
“Ellen was very weird and not nice to me for most of my career,” Cho revealed on The Kelly Mantle Show.
The frustration was evident in her voice when she said, “And I’m like, ‘Man, what’s the point?’ That’s weird. We’re old friends.”
The David Bowie episode
Things got even more complicated with what Cho calls the “Bowie snub.”
Cho arrived at a David Bowie concert decked herself out in a “Chinese Emperor outfit” — a classic Cho fashion statement.
The next day, when the two were guests on Ellen’s show, Bowie complimented Cho’s bold look.
But viewers never saw it. Why? Those comments mysteriously ended up on the cutting room floor.
“The producer had to call me,” Cho explained. “He said, ‘I can’t believe she did that, but she cut it out of the show.'”
“Everyone should be afraid of Ellen”
This wasn’t just a one-time clash of personalities. When asked about DeGeneres during the 2020 workplace scandal, Cho minced no words: “I think she’s really scary.
I still am afraid of Ellen. Everyone should be afraid of Ellen.”
That’s quite a statement from someone who spent decades in the world of hardcore comedy.
The fall of Ellen
DeGeneres’ reputation took a major blow when allegations of a toxic workplace surfaced in 2020.
Following an investigation, an apology and the firing of three producers, she ended her 19-season run in 2021.
In her 2024 comeback special, “For Your Approval,” Ellen poked fun at the contradiction of being “fired from show business” and being labeled as unkind, a “be kind” girl.
“If I had ended my show saying ‘Go fuck your mother,’ people would be happily surprised to find out that I’m kind,” she quipped.
The uncomfortable truth of comedy
Cho’s revelations shed light on the often fraught reality behind the scenes of showbiz.
While viewers watched Ellen dance around with celebrities, Cho experienced a different person — someone who ignored decades of shared history.
As Cho said in her perfect deadpan delivery: “It’s so creepy and weird.”