Given the recent string of allegations against Ellen DeGeneres, many of her fans are taking inventory of her jokes and viewing them in a new light. Weighing and measuring the jokes DeGeneres has made in the past, fans are finding the comedian guilty of mean-spiritedness. Particularly when it comes to her treatment of her frequent show guest Sofia Vergara over the years.
Over the last decade, DeGeneres has had time to host Vergara on her talk show various times. Whether Vergara was herself or when she was sitting alongside the rest of the cast of her old show “Modern Family.” And despite the very many things DeGeneres could have talked to or celebrated Vergara for while hosting her, the Colombian actress was often subject to some of the worst jokes by DeGeneres.
All because of her thick accent.
Recently fans compiled clips of DeGeneres’s interviews with Vergara and it’s pretty not great.
In clips circulating on Twitter, DeGeneres can be seen jeering Vergara for her accent. During one interview, DeGeneres remarks hat Vergara’s “English has gotten worse, not better,” over the course of her time on “Modern Family.” Users on Twitter were quick to point out that DeGeneres often made jokes about Vergara’s English and often tried to make games out of her English-speaking abilities. In several incidents during the interviews, it seems pretty evident that Vergara might have been hurt by DeGeneres’ jokes.
Recently, Vergara addressed claims that DeGeneres was being racist towards her.
Two comedians having fun with each other to entertain. I was never a victim guys, I was always in on the joke. https://t.co/mjUjPNRHlb
In response to allegations that DeGeneres was being racist, Vergara commented “Two comedians having fun with each other to entertain,” in a tweet going on to say “I was never a victim guys, I was always in on the joke.”
In response to Vergara’s message fans have pointed out that whether done with the intention of being racist towards Vergara specifically, DeGeneres’ jokes at the time were still hurtful to others.
“My parents, who have heavy spanish accents, didn’t have the option to be in on the joke.’ Instead, they were the butt of jokes,” one user wrote. “And as a child of immigrants, I was always picked on because of that. Your ‘entertainment’ may lead to some to think they have a free pass to ridicule.”
“Me too, my poor mom took classes to try to reduce her accent despite being perfectly understandable. The discrimination was even worse in the 80s but Ellen keeps it alive,” another Twitter user commented. “It’s the lowest form of humor, the put down towards the other person. It’s non funny peoples humor.”
DeGeneres has yet to comment on the clips that have resurfaced.
omg i just remembered!!! i had a dream tonight that i was on ellen and i was sofia vergara, like in that interview and when ellen was like you’ve been on that show for 10 years how do you still have an accent and i (sofia) was like how the fuck have you been on this show for 10
Tons of people are commenting on the clips being shared of the actresses time together.
Since that video of Ellen and Sofia Vergara is going around remember there was a scene in Modern Family where Gloria literally yells at them that she is so much smarter in Spanish but no one else bothered to learn her language so they don’t get to make fun of her broken English https://t.co/wDK7Id74dC
And it’s pretty heartbreaking how hurtful DeGeneres’ comments are.
Is the internet actually aurprised that Ellen DeGeneres made fun of Sofia Vergara's accent? It was always obvious that behind her show's forced and made up blind that she was a self-centered white washed presenter that appealed to the lowest common denominator of society…
And of course, you might remember this terrible offense.
remember when ellen dressed up as sofía vergara and nicki minaj for her halloween specials and proceeded to mock them and their bodies? pic.twitter.com/8jutPgg316
It’s no secret that drag and, in particular, drag queens have made their way into the mainstream. Much of their success is easily attributed to the hit show RuPaul’s Drag Race, which has helped catapult hundreds of queens into the spotlight.
The show, which is now in it’s 12 regular season (plus countless spinoffs), has one eight Emmy Awards – but above all else, it’s helped create a community for LGBTQ persons who hadn’t grown up seeing people like them on TV. So many people say that the show has helped them accept their identities. It’s also helped launch the careers of dozens of drag queens.
It’s no surprise then, that the show has also attracted some of the biggest names in entertainment – from Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga to Ricky Martin and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, several high-profile judges have helped judge the completion for their charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent.
Mike Ruiz
Credit: RuPaul’s Drag Race / VH1
Mike Ruiz was a tasty addition to the regular lineup of ‘Drag Race’ judges – having made several appearances over the course of the show. Although he hasn’t returned since season 6. He often launched the season with a photoshoot in which he had to find the perfect shot of each queen.
Maria Conchita Alonso
Credit: RuPaul’s Drag Race / VH1
The Cuban-born telenovela star made her debut on Drag Race in the very first season of the show – where she helped judge the first ever ball. She made her way back to Drag Race during season 5, where she came back to coach the queens on their telenovela acting skills alongside Wilmer Valderrama. It’s obvious this two-time guest judge has a special place in her heart for drag!
Rosie Perez
Credit: RuPaul’s Drag Race / VH1
The Acadamy Award-nominated actress also made her Drag Race debut on the show’s very first season, where she helped judge the first ever girl group competition. She judged alongside Mary Wilson and the duo were definitely one of the season’s highlights.
Jessica Alba
Credit: RuPaul’s Drag Race / VH1
Jessica Alba was one of the biggest-named actresses to appear as a judge – especially in the earlier seasons. She made her debut on Drag Race in season 7, which was jam packed full of big name guest judges – Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato and Mel B – just to name a few.
Jessica Alba didn’t disappoint fans on her visit to the show either having fun with the queens as they shot their parody music video. The winner of the episode – Kennedy Davenport – also scored a three year supply of products from Alba’s The Honest Company.
Demi Lovato
Credit: RuPaul’s Drag Race / VH1
Another season 7 judge, Demi Lovato’s appearance on the show left the queens gagged. She appeared in the season just two episodes after Ariana Grande had been on so the queens were being treated to some of the biggest names in pop.
Demi Lovato was joined by guest judge John Waters – who’s iconic films inspired the episodes maxi-challenge, of which Ginger Minj won. For the lip synch – between Miss Fame and Pearl – the queens got to perform Demi Lovato’s “Really Don’t Care.”
Christina Aguilera
Credit: RuPaul’s Drag Race / VH1
Getting none other than Christina Aguilera (a.k.a. Xtina) to appear in the premiere episode of season 10 (a.k.a. season X) was definitely a very clever idea. Besides, Christina Aguilera has been considered an important LGBTQ+ ally since her music video for “Beautiful,” which featured same-sex relationships during a time when this was not necessarily trendy for popstars to do.
On Drag Race, Christina Aguilera was more than willing to have fun. She even did a bit in which she pretended to be season 9 contestant Farrah Moan (who many believe looks like the singer). Overall, Xtina did not disappoint Drag Race fans!
Guillermo Díaz
Credit: RuPaul’s Drag Race / VH1
Cuban-American actor Guillermo Díaz made his Drag Race debut in season 11 on the third episode, alongside pop star Troye Sivan. The two were there to help judge one of my favorite maxi-challenges to date – the teams had to select a pop diva to worship in their TV evangelist show.
In the lip synch challenge, the bottom six queens lip synced to Jennifer Lopez’s “Waiting for Tonight” and it was everything.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Credit: RuPaul’s Drag Race / VH1
Drag Race was one of the most revolutionary shows when it first started. Here were drag artists going on national TV and performing their art form, when it was still considered extremely taboo. Times have changed, thankfully, and so much so that one of the nation’s leading politicians made a guest judge appearance on the show. Enter: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who made her debut on the show during season 12, episode 7.
This episode featured by far the very best ‘rusical’ every performed on the show – honoring pop queen Madonna. AOC was very visibly into the performance and gave plenty of constructive criticism and praise to the queens. She even snuck backstage during the taping of Untucked to have more one-on-one time with the queens, and reminding them of the power of their art form and their voice.
Ricky Martin
Credit: RuPaul’s Drag Race / VH1
RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars’ Season 5 is already a hit with fans and maybe Ricky Martin had something to do with it. Fans are loving him on the judges’ panel and didn’t hold back from expressing their love for him. The Puerto Rican singer-actor watched every performance with equal enthusiasm and awe — especially the last one where queen India Ferrah and lip-sync assassin Yvie Oddly battled it out in the elimination.
And pretty much all of Twitter agreed that Ricky Martin has only gotten better with age – calling him the ultimate trade of ‘All Stars’ Season 5.
Did we miss any of your favorite judges? Or who would you like to see make a guest appearance on Drag Race?
