Ellen DeGeneres Comedy Special Highlights Her Love for Animals

Ellen has often spoken about the value of protecting animals and reducing consumption of animal products. She has also been known to support a wide range of animal protection organizations and initiatives, from wildlife conservation and companion animal rescue to farm animal advocacy. For decades, Ellen has used her celebrity status to shine a light on animal issues.

In her 2018 Netflix comedy special Relatable, Ellen showcases her witty observational humor as she offers glimpses into her philosophies about animal advocacy and plant-based eating. Relatable is Ellen’s first return to stand-up comedy since 2003. In the special, Ellen tells the story of a friend who expressed hesitation when Ellen said she was considering doing stand-up again. The friend asked, “Do you think you’re still relatable?” referring to Ellen’s wealth and fame. The idea of being relatable is a constant comedic thread throughout Ellen’s routine, as she uses humor to remind us of our shared humanity.

Ellen on Veganism

In Relatable, Ellen offers hilarious reflections on her eight years as a vegan. “The one thing that people get really upset about is when they find out I’m vegan—oh boy! ‘You’re vegan? Where do you get your protein?’ ‘Why do you care where I get my protein? Where do you get your riboflavin?’”

Ellen acknowledges that she’s no longer vegan “for no reason really.” But ultimately, the comic reflects positively on her past dietary choice: “I was vegan for 8 years, and I really do believe that it’s great for you. I was healthier than I’ve ever been, and I loved being vegan.” Ellen goes on to share that she still eats primarily plant-based, only occasionally consuming fish and eggs.

Even as a non-vegan, Ellen continues to advocate for the public to reduce their consumption of animal products. In 2019, she urged her 77 million Instagram followers (at the time) to eat less meat.

“I was scrolling through the ‘Gram,’ and I noticed that a lot of people were talking about eating less meat, which I think is a fantastic idea. It’s a great idea for the planet. It’s a great idea for your health. It’s a great idea for the animal’s health. So eat less meat, unless you’re a vegan and you don’t eat meat already, then good for you. So you don’t even need to pay attention to this,” Ellen said in a video posted to Instagram.

Eating Out as a Vegan

In Relatable, Ellen also reflects on how eating at non-vegan restaurants as a vegan can sometimes be challenging. “You go to a restaurant, and unless it’s a vegan restaurant, they don’t know what to do,” Ellen says. She jokes that even the salad at a non-vegan restaurant is bafflingly soaked in ham juice.

Fortunately, the landscape of plant-based eating has improved since the time when Ellen was vegan and since the release of Relatable. Restaurants have become more accommodating of plant-based eating. Even fast food joints like Burger King, Carl’s Jr. and Dairy Queen have started offering vegan options. With the number of Americans eating vegan diets increasing 600% between 2014 and 2018, many restaurants are responding to the demand with more plant-based options—including, but not limited to, salads free from ham juice.

Ellen on Animal Autonomy

At one point in the special, Ellen shares about some funny animal videos that she and her wife Portia found on Instagram. She shares a clip of a Golden Conure bird named Topaz dancing to the song “Humble” by Kendrick Lamar. But her routine goes deeper than simply sharing silly animal videos—Ellen gently explores themes of animal autonomy using her brilliant comedic cadence. Ellen reflects:

“Then I started really thinking about it because I love animals so much, and I thought, I don’t know how I feel because when people get birds as pets they clip their wings, they put them in cages, they don’t get to fly anymore. But these birds get to dance and they know music, and they’re listening to music that they’d never otherwise hear if they were in the jungle. Because the birds in the jungle have never heard Kendrick Lamar. They don’t know who he is. They’re flying and they think they’ve got it all, but they don’t… I’m torn, I don’t know how I feel. Because I feel like animals should be in their natural environment.”

Although her comments are offered under a veil of comedy, Ellen brings up a thought-provoking theme of whether non-human animals deserve autonomy and other rights—a critical question for establishing protections for animals. The idea of keeping animals in our homes—especially birds and other wild animals—has become an ethical gray area. Most pets today lead lives that lack adequate stimulation. They spend excessive time alone, and even when accompanied, they lack sufficient enrichment, such as toys, positive reinforcement training, and diverse diets. Some pets are worse off; they suffer verbal abuse, inadequate veterinary care, and abandonment. But in the case of birds like Topaz who are bred into captivity, most are incapacitated and unable to do even the most fundamental act in their nature—fly.

Ellen on Protecting Wildlife

Ellen’s animal advocacy has spanned many species, from cats and dogs to farm animals to wildlife. When Ellen turned 60 in 2018, Portia gave her a very special gift—she established The Ellen Fund, which supports global conservation efforts for endangered species. The Ellen Fund also supports people, with particular focus on uplifting women and conservationists of color who are making a difference.

In the special, Ellen talks about The Ellen Fund’s first project to protect wild mountain gorillas. She tells about the unforgettable trip to Rwanda she took with Portia to see the endangered species in their natural habitat. The birthday trip took a difficult turn due to months of heavy rain, which made the journey to spot the gorillas an arduous and painful slog through knee-high mud.

Gorillas are an animal species Ellen has been particularly concerned about. According to The Ellen Fund website, Ellen says: “Gorillas are amazing animals. I found out that gorillas and humans share 98% of the same DNA. Isn’t that amazing? I’m pretty sure I have cousins who I share less DNA with… But the thing that’s most amazing about gorillas is how compassionate they are… Gorillas will go out of their way to protect humans. There are cases where gorillas stop humans from walking into poacher’s traps. That’s how compassionate they are. Meanwhile, there are a lot of humans who honk their horns the second the light turns green. And here’s the sad part. They’re one of the most endangered animals in the world.”

Ellen’s observations in Relatable and her efforts to protect animals illustrate how there are many ways to be an animal advocate. Eating more plant-based foods and protecting at-risk wild animals are two ways Ellen has shown her care for animals. But she has also spoken out against greyhound racing, trophy hunting, and animal testing. She has adopted animal companions through rescue organizations. She has advocated for animal protection legislation such as California’s Proposition 12, which established unprecedented space requirements for egg-laying hens, breeding pigs, and calves raised for veal. Ellen has provided financial support for animal nonprofits such as the farm animal sanctuary The Gentle Barn. This incomplete list of Ellen’s diverse advocacy shows that there are many ways to take action for animals.

What We Can Learn from Ellen about Animal Advocacy

Animal advocacy has long been left out of mainstream dialogues on social justice. When Ellen positions herself as an advocate for animals, she increases the visibility and credibility of animal issues in public discourse.

“When something is talked about and when you see representatives of whatever the subject is it demystifies it. People aren’t afraid of it anymore,” Ellen says in the special, offering a humorous example of how Jennifer Aniston has normalized dry eye through her appearances in commercials.

Although Ellen introduces the topic of veganism by the token of being unrelatable, simply by talking about her journey of plant-based eating, she breaks down barriers and invites her audience to think critically about their own food choices.

Ellen’s use of humor is especially valuable. Through laughter, Ellen disarms her audience and invites them into conversations about plant-based eating and animal protection. By using self-effacing humor to approach these hot button issues, the listener is no longer on the defensive. Animal advocates may benefit from exploring Ellen’s approach on their own and using humor as a tool for changing hearts and minds.

While some plant-based eating advocates have expressed disdain for Ellen since she declared that she was no longer vegan, her example of imperfect plant-based eating sets the stage for a larger shift towards a more compassionate future. Ellen’s diet offers a model of imperfection that makes space for more people to explore plant-based eating with room for mistakes. By eating mostly plant-based, Ellen challenges the standard of purity in the vegan community, showing that plant-based eating doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Every choice to reduce consumption of animal products brings us closer to a world where all animals can live free from cruelty and exploitation.

Some may perceive the chasm between vegans and non-vegans as wide, but Ellen’s reflections in Relatable help to shrink it. In reflecting on the difficulties and growth that stemmed from coming out as gay as a celebrity, Ellen offers this sage advice that proves relevant to life and advocacy alike:

“It was more important for me to feel proud of who I was and live my truth than worry about what other people thought of me… That’s what we all want—we want to grow, we want to feel good about ourselves, we want to feel proud of who we are. We’re all the same, and we are all relatable.”

Ellen’s Ripple Effect

Over the course of decades, Ellen has repeatedly used her celebrity status to promote care and concern for animals. Her example creates a ripple effect, inspiring countless others to stand up for animals too. After winning an award for animal advocacy in 2011, she said: “I wish we lived in a world where caring for animals wasn't so rare that it deserved an award. All I do is treat animals with the respect and dignity they deserve. I hope someday soon, everyone does the same.”