Comedian and beloved talk show host Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, actress Portia de Rossi, leave America as the two turn a new page in their lives. The two relocated to England’s Cotswolds on November 20, 2024, following the re-election of Donald Trump as President. The move has caused a stir with an equal amount of negative versus positive reactions since Ellen is now redefining her life away from the spotlight.
Their new home sits amidst the beautiful Cotswolds in the English countryside-a land of rolling hills, quaint villages, and tranquil atmosphere. Renowned for drawing celebrities desiring privacy and peace of mind, the Cotswolds gives the couple the most appropriate retreat from the hustle and bustle of their previous lives in the U.S.A. Ellen and Portia reportedly purchased the property ahead of the election, sealing plans for a new beginning.
The decision to leave the U.S. was not lightly taken. A friend close to the couple said that the main factor in their decision to move away was Trump’s re-election, which had left them “disillusioned” and spurred them to leave immediately. Ellen-who, in 2022, faced public backlash over toxic workplace allegations on her talk show-saw this as an opportunity to escape the controversies that haunted her career. “It’s about starting over,” a confidante shared. I think Ellen wanted to get away from the noise and to reconnect with what really counts.
The relaxed Ellen has taken to the slow pace of life in her new Cotswolds home, tending to the garden and raising chickens, starkly contrasting with the glamour of Hollywood. Ellen professionally made a creative comeback with Netflix for her stand-up special titled ‘For Your Approval’.
The special reflects on her journey, fame, and how her “be kind” persona became a double-edged sword. With her signature humor, Ellen jokingly said perhaps if she had been blunt with a good-bye-such as actually telling them to “go away”-that might have saved her from some of the fallout.
Their move has drawn a range of reactions: supporters admire their courage in seeking peace and happiness, while critics question the motivations. Unfounded rumors have also flown thick and fast about a rolled-out celebrity exodus due to political events, to which fact-checkers have waded in. But these reports on Ellen’s relocation are firmly pegged on personal and professional considerations rather than on exaggerated claims of her moving out of the U.S.
This is a relocation that underlines how well Ellen has always adapted and managed to rebuild her life, even in the face of adversity. From falling from grace in the entertainment world to finding her voice again with comedy, the story of Ellen has been one of resiliency and reinvention. The move to the U.K. is symbolic in that it means not only the physical changes but an inner, emotive shift and a personal change of self.
