An Emotional Ellen DeGeneres Announces She's Leaving Her Show

Taped yesterday concurrent with an article in The Holywood Reporter, Elen DeGeneres announced on Ellen today that next year's Season 19 would be the show's last.

"You all have changed my life an I am forever grateful to all of you for watching — for laughing, for dancing, sometimes crying," said DeGeneres, holding back tears herself. "This show has been the greatest experience of my life, and I owe it all to you."

DeGeneres went on to say that after signing a three-year contract renewal two years ago, she always "knew in my heart" that Season 19 would be her last, saying that "my instinct told me it's time.. I truly have felt like next season was the right time to end this amazing chapter."

The daytime talker has seen a precipitous drop in ratings this season after employees came forward last summer with allegations that The Ellen DeGeneres Show was a toxic workplace. DeGeneres told The Hollywood Reporter yesterday that her decision to leave had nothing to do with the show's toxic workplace scandal, although she conceded that it had "destroyed" her.

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Jed Rosenzweig is the Founder and Publisher of Primetimer.