In a recent interview, Mariah Carey said she was “extremely uncomfortable” when Ellen DeGeneres revealed that the pop singer was pregnant during a 2008 appearance on the comedian’s talk show. In the chat with Vulture, Carey said the reports about the allegedly toxic work environment on the Ellen DeGeneres Show resulted in a clip from that time resurfacing on Twitter, which brought up hard memories.
While rumors were swirling at the time that Carey might be pregnant, DeGeneres appeared to try and trick the singer into revealing her condition by offering her a glass of champagne on the show.
“People are saying that you’re pregnant,” DeGeneres says to Carey in the clip.
“I don’t discuss that,” Carey nervously laughs in response as DeGeneres pulls out a couple glasses and a bottle of bubbly.
“I can’t believe you did this to me, Ellen,” Carey says after demurring by saying bubbly is too fattening. “This is peer pressure.”
Carey had a miscarriage soon after, but later welcomed twins Moroccan and Monroe in April 2011 with Nick Cannon. Now, she says, “I was extremely uncomfortable with that moment is all I can say. And I really have had a hard time grappling with the aftermath. I wasn’t ready to tell anyone because I had had a miscarriage. I don’t want to throw anyone that’s already being thrown under any proverbial bus, but I didn’t enjoy that moment.”
A number of fellow stars have spoken out about the allegedly toxic environment on the set of the show, with Katy Perry recently coming to the embattled talk-show host’s defense. She tweeted in August, “I know I can’t speak for anyone else’s experience besides my own but I want to acknowledge that I have only ever had positive takeaways from my time with Ellen & on the @theellenshow.”
DeGeneres, once referred to as the “Queen of Nice,” has not been implicated in any misconduct and took responsibility in a letter to her staff for what reportedly happened on her watch. She’s also faced increasing pressure as allegations have surfaced about sexual misconduct and harassment, racism, intimidation and unjust termination on her watch.
And while a few other celebrities have made similarly supportive comments, Andy Lasser, an executive producer on the show, told Vanity Fair recently that “it’s been a couple of rough months. But, um, it’s when we go through these things that we learn the most about ourselves and maybe even some growth. But to tell you it hasn’t been rough would be a lie, and I’ve always been honest with you, so it’s been rough.”
Carey went on to tell Vulture that there is, “an empathy that can be applied to those moments that I would have liked to have been implemented. But what am I supposed to do? It’s like, [sings] ‘What are you going to do?’ ”
A spokesperson for Ellen had no official comment at press time.
