Margaret Cho Reveals Ellen DeGeneres’ “Mean Girl” Side and Behind-the-Scenes Snubs

Margaret Cho Spills the Tea: “Ellen DeGeneres Was Like a Mean Girl”

Margaret Cho isn't one to sugarcoat things, and in her latest sit-down on The Kelly Mantle Show, she took a moment to reflect on her strange, at times chilly, relationship with Ellen DeGeneres. And let’s just say—she didn’t hold back.

Now, before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s rewind a bit. Cho’s career has spanned decades, from groundbreaking stand-up to cult-favorite TV roles to appearances in major films. So, when she says she’s been around Ellen for a while, believe her. “She’s somebody I’ve known for such a long time,” Cho said on the podcast. “She was like a mean girl, kind of—but also she would be real nice.” That weird flip-flop behavior? That’s what stuck with Cho the most.

“It’s so weird now, [the] public perception of her is more true to... she’s mean,” Cho observed.

Ellen DeGeneres—once hailed as America’s favorite daytime TV host—has definitely seen her public image take some sharp turns. At one point, her “be kind” mantra was practically gospel. But by 2020, reports began flooding in that her talk show was anything but kind behind the scenes, with allegations ranging from workplace toxicity to racism and even sexual misconduct.

While Ellen's PR team was busy spinning the narrative and cleaning up messes, Cho was just sitting back, nodding like, “Yep, sounds about right.”

That Time Cho Opened for Ellen (and Got the Cold Shoulder)

Cho shared a memory from her early comedy days that, in hindsight, just hits different. She once opened up for Ellen—an experience that should’ve been a career milestone, right? But fast-forward a few years, and Cho found herself as a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, only to be treated like a stranger.

“She acted like we just met,” Cho said, clearly still baffled by the interaction. “And I’m like, ‘Bitch, what?’ That’s weird. We go way back.”

And that right there sums up a recurring theme in Cho’s Ellen encounters: awkwardness. Coldness. Maybe even some underlying resentment?

“Her Wives Always Liked Me... Maybe That Was the Problem?”

In one of the juiciest tidbits from the interview, Cho tossed out a theory: maybe Ellen’s cold shoulder had something to do with jealousy.

“I think she always had negative feelings toward me because her girlfriends and wives always liked me,” Cho speculated. “There’s a kind of woman [who] loves a female comic.”

👀 Okay, now we’re really talking. Cho, who’s always had an unapologetic flair and fierce feminist energy, could very well have been a little too charismatic for Ellen’s comfort. It’s not every day you hear a story like this—comedians clashing not over jokes, but over vibes.

The David Bowie Situation: The Pettiest Edit Ever?

If that wasn’t enough to raise eyebrows, Cho dropped another gem—this time involving none other than the late, great David Bowie.

She told Mantle about attending one of Bowie’s concerts dressed in a grand, colorful Chinese emperor outfit. The next day, Bowie was a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and, according to Cho, he couldn’t stop gushing about her outfit on-air.

“David Bowie had been on the show, and he was so excited that the night before that, I had come to his show wearing this giant Chinese emperor outfit,” Cho said. “He was really thrilled about it, and he talked at length about it.”

But here’s the kicker—when the episode aired, all mention of Cho was mysteriously cut from the final broadcast. Not one word made it in.

The Call That Confirmed It All

A friend of Cho’s who worked on the show—someone she describes as “a really good friend”—later confirmed what had happened behind the scenes.

“They had to call me and tell me, ‘I can’t believe she did this, but she cut it out of the show. You need to know that [Bowie] was going on and on about your outfit. He loves you,’” Cho recalled.

Oof. Whether it was just a timing issue or something more personal, Cho admits she’s going to take it personally regardless. And really, who wouldn’t? When a legend like Bowie gives you public love, and someone slices it out of the final cut? That stings.

Ellen’s Empire Was Already Cracking

Let’s not forget, by the time The Ellen DeGeneres Show wrapped up in 2022, Ellen was no longer riding the wave of universal adoration. The cracks were already showing. Back in 2020, BuzzFeed News published an exposé that pulled back the curtain on the toxic environment allegedly brewing backstage. Staffers described a place filled with intimidation, racism, and misconduct.

While Ellen denied that the show ended because of the backlash, it’s hard to ignore the domino effect that started right after the bombshell reports dropped. The goodwill she built over decades quickly evaporated.

No Comment... Literally

Unsurprisingly, when HuffPost reached out for Ellen’s side of the story regarding Cho’s claims, there was radio silence. Her reps didn’t respond. And maybe that silence speaks volumes. After all, Ellen has mostly stayed low-key since her talk show finale, save for the occasional public appearance or social media post.

Margaret Cho’s honesty, though, brings a refreshing (and kind of spicy) twist to the conversation surrounding Ellen’s legacy. In a sea of polished interviews and PR-managed soundbites, Cho’s storytelling felt like someone finally flipping the lights on in a room full of whispers.

Why This Story Hits So Hard

Look, everyone has complicated relationships in showbiz. But the recurring theme here—selective kindness, professional snubs, and behind-the-scenes edits—adds up to something bigger than petty drama. It speaks to an industry where power dynamics play out in quiet, invisible ways.

Ellen’s brand was always “nice,” but as more voices emerge, that brand seems more like a facade. Meanwhile, Cho’s been building her career by staying loud, unfiltered, and delightfully weird. In the end, maybe that’s the real reason they never quite vibed.

TL;DR – The Highlights:

• 🎤 Margaret Cho calls Ellen DeGeneres a “mean girl” on The Kelly Mantle Show.

• 😶 Claims Ellen was “weird and not nice” for most of her career.

• 🧊 Says Ellen snubbed her on her own talk show after years of knowing each other.

• 💥 Suggests jealousy may have been a factor—Ellen’s partners apparently liked Cho.

• 🧵 Reveals Ellen allegedly cut David Bowie’s on-air praise of her outfit from the show.

• 📺 Points to Ellen’s history of toxic workplace allegations and public image struggles.

• 🤐 Ellen’s camp has not responded to the latest claims.

Whether you take Cho’s words as personal beef or part of a broader pattern, one thing’s for sure: when comedians spill tea, it’s never boring.