‘Incredibly painful,’ says Ellen DeGeneres. ‘I had no idea that was a symptom.’

With Ellen DeGeneres’ chat show ending after 19 seasons, many fans have reflected on her career’s highs and lows. In a more recent case, the 64-year-old claimed “excruciating” back pain after contracting COVID-19 at the height of the pandemic.

DeGeneres decided to step away from the spotlight amid charges that her show was a toxic workplace, instead seeking to spend more time fulfilling her passion for animal conservation, having recently completed The Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in Rwanda.