Comedian Margaret Cho has spoken out about her long-standing rift with former talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, revealing that she has felt dismissed and undervalued by the TV icon for years.
Appearing on “The Kelly Mantle Show” podcast, Cho recounted their rocky history dating back to the 1980s, when she frequently opened for DeGeneres in comedy clubs.
Despite their early interactions, Cho claimed that DeGeneres later acted like they were strangers during her appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in the 2000s.
“I’m like, ‘B***, what? That’s weird. We go way back,’”* Cho said, describing Ellen’s behavior as “weird” and “creepy.”
Cho also shared details of a specific incident that deepened the rift. She said a segment featuring David Bowie—who praised her unique Chinese emperor-inspired outfit—was mysteriously cut from the final broadcast of DeGeneres’ show. A producer friend later informed her about Bowie’s compliment, which never aired.
“I’m going to take it personally just because I decided to,” Cho remarked, suggesting the edit felt intentional and disrespectful, even if explained away as a time constraint.
Cho joins a growing list of comedians, including Rosie O’Donnell and Kathy Griffin, who have publicly criticized DeGeneres for her alleged cold behavior behind the scenes.
As of this report, DeGeneres’ representatives have not responded to requests for comment.
