Margaret Cho Discusses Ellen DeGeneres Feud: “She Was Very Unkind”
Margaret Cho has opened up about a long-standing disagreement with fellow comedian Ellen DeGeneres.
“Ellen was really odd and unfriendly to me throughout much of my career,” Cho, 56, expressed during a recent episode of the “Kelly Mantle Show” podcast on June 20. “I had the opportunity to open for her in the 1980s when she was already a headliner at comedy clubs. Then, when I appeared on her talk show in the 2000s, it was as if we’d never met before!”
Cho continued, “I’m like, ‘Excuse me, what’s going on?’ That’s just bizarre. We have a history! It’s truly creepy and strange!”
She recalled an experience at a David Bowie concert, where she wore a “giant Chinese emperor outfit.” Cho stated that Bowie praised her outfit on The Ellen DeGeneres Show the following day, yet the entire story was omitted from the episode.
“It infuriated me,” she reminisced. “The producer, who is a close friend, had to call and say, ‘I can’t believe she did this – she cut it from the show. But you should know he was raving about your outfit! God acknowledged you!’”
Cho emphasized, “[It’s] incredibly disrespectful! I’m not sure if it was a personal decision or simply because of time constraints. Regardless, I’m choosing to take it personally!”
Us Weekly has reached out to DeGeneres’ representative for a response.
Cho is not the only comedian to express discontent with DeGeneres. Rosie O’Donnell shared with Us in May that although she harbors no “animosity” toward DeGeneres, they have “issues from the past that were never resolved.”
“Not in a romantic way, just as friends and fellow comedians. I genuinely wish her well. I do,” she conveyed to Us. “There’s ample space in the world for all the gay comedians, and we must unite because the LGBTQIA+ community is facing increased threats. The way trans individuals are targeted is absolutely horrifying. If people fail to recognize their essential role in the community, that’s a tragedy.”
O’Donnell also mentioned her surprise at learning that DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, left the U.S. for the English countryside after President Donald Trump’s election in November 2024. (O’Donnell moved to Ireland with her 12-year-old child, Clay, before Trump took office in January.)
“I’ve never known Ellen to be political, so I was taken aback when I read she left because of President Trump. It genuinely shocked me,” O’Donnell shared with Us. “I’ve been politically engaged my whole life; it doesn’t make me better or worse, just different.”
The former host of Rosie O’Donnell Show continued, “I made my reasons for leaving quite clear, and it didn’t come as a shock to anyone. We’re not really part of each other’s lives, and it has felt a bit awkward. But you know what? I wish her the best. I hope she finds peace and love in her life and that she is doing well.”
Kathy Griffin has also had a public feud with DeGeneres, recently discussing their fallout on her YouTube channel.
“My disdain for her is immense,” she stated in April. “I recognize much of it stems from jealousy. I understand that. She’s far more successful than I’ll ever be. … You’re welcome, Ellen. That’s far kinder than anything you’ve ever said about me or probably ever will.”
DeGeneres has mostly stayed away from the limelight since moving to the U.K., appearing only occasionally on social media from her farmhouse.
