Let me tell you a story that'll blow your mind. Picture this: Ellen DeGeneres, the beloved comedian and former talk show queen, rolled into Radio City Music Hall for her farewell stand-up tour, and she brought along security so tight it rivals that of the President of the United States. A source who attended Ellen’s Last Stand…Up show tells Closer that the level of protection was nothing short of extraordinary.

Security So Tight, It’d Make the Secret Service Jealous

According to an insider, the staff working the event was on high alert, making sure no phones or Bluetooth headphones made it into the venue. "The staff was militant at locking away phones and Bluetooth headphones so there could be no recording during the show," the insider revealed. And here's the kicker—someone who works in Washington, D.C., said they’ve never seen security like this for the POTUS himself. That’s how serious it was.

A Standing Ovation for the Queen of Nice

Despite all the drama surrounding her downfall in recent years, Ellen, now 66, received a standing ovation from a packed house. Fans came from far and wide to see her on her stand-up comedy tour, where she’s laying it all out there—getting real about how her reputation as the Queen of Nice affected her life. It’s not just a comedy show; it’s a deeply personal journey.

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Ellen joked about her famous sign-off from her daytime talk show, where she'd tell her audience to "be kind to one nother." So when news broke that she wasn’t as sweet and perky as she appeared on TV, it was a shock to her fans. “Had I ended my show by saying ‘go f–k yourselves,’ people would have been pleasantly surprised I’m kind,” Ellen quipped, bringing the house down with laughter.

ellen-degeneres-potus-level-security — Getty Images

From Queen of Nice to Mean? The Rumor That Almost Broke Her

Ellen took the stage and opened up about the rumors that she was mean, which she said were devastating. “What else can I tell you? Oh, yeah. I got kicked out of show business because I’m mean. You can’t be mean and be in show business. Look it up. No mean people in show business. Yeah. You heard? I was mean. Everybody heard. I was mean. I know that everywhere I go, everyone has heard that,” Ellen pondered aloud.

Ellen’s career skyrocketed in 2003 with the premiere of her cheerful daytime talk show, which became a go-to spot for celebrities to share their personal stories. Over the years, she became a close friend to many in Hollywood. She was generous with her audience, giving away thousands of dollars' worth of consumer items during her “12 Days of Christmas giveaways.”

The Fall from Grace in 2020

But everything changed in 2020 when Buzzfeed News published accounts from nearly a dozen current and former staffers who claimed Ellen and several of her top executives created a toxic work environment behind the scenes. In August of that year, three longtime execs left the show. In September 2020, Ellen apologized and directly addressed the situation with her audience.

“I learned that things happen here that never should have happened. I take that very seriously and I want to say I am so sorry to the people who were affected,” Ellen said during her opening monologue. “We have made the necessary changes and today we are starting a new chapter,” she added. In May 2021, Ellen announced that her upcoming 19th season would be her last.

During her current tour, Ellen told the audience at Radio City Music Hall, “I’m proud of who I’ve become.” She explained how being a public figure means “you’re open to everyone’s interpretation,” but “the truth is all that matters.” However, she noted that in show business, “I’ve always had to care what people think because being a host or a comedian, it’s really our only true currency because it’s for success. Because if they like you, you’re in and if they don’t, you’re out.”

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After losing her self-titled sitcom in 2002 after coming out as gay, Ellen revealed how she “spent an entire life trying to make people happy and I’ve cared far too much what other people think of me.” The rumor of her being mean “was devastating” for Ellen, who said, “It consumed me for years.” Thankfully, time helped her gain “perspective,” and with that, she realized the balance between caring what people thought of her “to a certain degree is healthy but not if it affects your mental health,” Ellen told the audience.