Ellen DeGeneres is facing criticism from her followers who are urging her to remove a recent social media post featuring a throwback interview with Amanda Bynes. Posted on Saturday, June 21, the clip from 2004 shows DeGeneres speaking with Bynes shortly after she turned 18, discussing her decision to live with her parents.
The Instagram caption read, “Amanda Bynes talks turning 18 and living with her parents during her 2004 interview on the show. #Season2Rewatch.”
In the clip, Bynes expresses admiration for her parents, describing them as “understanding and wonderful,” and shares her decision not to move out at that time. DeGeneres praises Bynes for her choice, saying, “You have the freedom to live on your own if you want. And you choose to live at home with your parents and that you give them credit for being really understanding and cool parents.”
DeGeneres’ decision to share this clip drew criticism in light of Bynes’ well-documented struggles with mental health and legal issues since 2012, including a nine-year conservatorship under her parents until 2022.
Fans expressed discomfort with the post, calling it “tone-deaf” and questioning why it was shared given Bynes’ challenges. Some commented directly on DeGeneres’ Instagram post, urging her to delete it.
The controversy adds to recent scrutiny of DeGeneres’ public image following investigations into workplace issues on her talk show in 2020, which led to apologies and changes in leadership. DeGeneres ended her show in 2022 after 19 seasons.
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