DeGeneres Under Fire For Crossing Picket Line

U.S. comedienne ELLEN DeGENERES is facing the wrath of angry Hollywood
protesters – after failing to act in support of the screenwriters’ strikes.

While fellow U.S. talkshow hosts David Letterman, Jay Leno, Jon Stewart and
Conan O’Brien have all stood in support of the striking members of the Writers
Guild of America (WGA), DeGeneres crossed picket lines to tape her show Ellen:
The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Tuesday (06Nov07) – the day after the union went on
strike.

Defending her actions, she told the studio audience, “There’s a writers’
strike going on, and here in Los Angeles, it’s a huge story.

“I want to say I love my writers. I love them. In honor of them today, I’m
not going to do a monologue. I support them and hope that they get everything
they’re asking for. And I hope it works out soon. In the meantime, people have
traveled across the country. They’ve made plans. They’re here. I want to do
everything I can to make your trip enjoyable and give you a show.”

But it’s a decision DeGeneres may come to regret, as screenwriters are
already attacking the move.

One writer for her former 2001-2002 sitcom, The Ellen Show, reports she
treated her writers “like s**t”. The unnamed writer adds on his internet blog,
“I’m disappointed in Ellen (for crossing the picket line) but not surprised…
given what I’ve seen from her with my own two eyes.”

A TV insider tells the New York Post’s PageSix, “DeGeneres is unwilling to
honor the picket line because this is her last chance in show business. This
show is the only thing keeping her from a lifetime of touring college
campuses.”

A representative for the star has refused to comment.

(CG/WNWCNP/MT)

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  1. willow_jayne wrote: personally I agree with Ellen. Although those people who are fighting need to be heard it’s not all about them. People fly in from all over the united states… I agree she should have made future arrangements to help the writers… idk… she has endless resources. But I feel she made the right decision crossing that line.