Ellen DeGeneres' Prank Nightmare: Staff Strikes Back with Sneaker Swap

THE QUEEN OF MEAN: Ellen DeGeneres's Toxic Reign Exposed

The once-beloved queen of daytime TV, Ellen DeGeneres, has been accused of being a tyrannical dictator behind the scenes of her eponymous show. Sources close to the production have come forward to reveal the shocking truth about DeGeneres's mercurial temperament and the culture of fear that permeated the set.

According to insiders, DeGeneres would often "flip out" when things didn't go her way – and one particularly clever prank took it to a whole new level. Staffers secretly swapped DeGeneres's iconic Vans shoes with toddler-sized versions, complete with white laces, as a pointed dig at the comedienne's notoriously difficult behavior.

"It was like, 'You're being a baby!'" a source revealed, describing the stunt. "She went to put them on and... well, let's just say it was not a pretty sight."

But this wasn't an isolated incident. In fact, DeGeneres's staff lived in constant fear of her wrath. They were often forced to participate in quick tapings when she was in a bad mood – a practice that became all too familiar.

The former staffer who came forward anonymously described the toxic atmosphere on set: "When Ellen was in a bad mood, we'd get these 45-minute tapings... it was like, 'Let's just get through this and hope she doesn't blow up again.'"

DeGeneres's show, which ran from 2003 to 2022, was notorious for its demanding schedule and high expectations. But what really set the tone was DeGeneres herself – a perfectionist with no patience for imperfection.

The scholarlynote.com has uncovered explosive new allegations about DeGeneres's behind-the-scenes behavior, including claims that she would let her executives pressure staff into rescheduling personal matters to suit her schedule.

One former staffer revealed how DeGeneres allegedly pressured them into rescheduling their child's bone marrow transplant around the Christmas holiday week – a move that left the family reeling. "They were there on the day of the taping, and Ellen got exactly what she wanted," the source said.

But it wasn't just staff who suffered under DeGeneres's reign. Celebrities weren't immune to her wrath either. Top chef Gordon Ramsay was exiled from DeGeneres's show for years after he publicly shamed her for using rancid meat during a cookery demonstration.

As soon as he bit into the offending dish, Ramsay exclaimed, "This is rubbish! This is disgusting!" – and DeGeneres took it personally. "She didn't like the reaction," a source said. "It was like, eight seasons he didn't come back for after."

But what's perhaps most shocking is how far DeGeneres would go to maintain control over her domain. Workers have spoken out about being fired or banished for perceived slights – including one staffer who was let go just days after blocking DeGeneres's car with a golf cart.

It seems even the cameraman wasn't immune to DeGeneres's wrath, describing the atmosphere on set as "terrifying." Producers allegedly tried to silence former staff members from speaking out by blocking their attempts to find new jobs – a tactic that left many workers hesitant to speak up.

As The scholarlynote.com has previously reported, DeGeneres has been accused of trying to get a restaurant server fired for having chipped nail polish and branding an 11-year-old boy "fat" when she was just 20 years old. In response, DeGeneres told The Hollywood Reporter that she had learned from the experience – but it seems there's still much more to learn.

The scholarlynote.com has reached out to DeGeneres for comment – but so far, no response has been forthcoming. It seems the queen of mean is hiding behind her English castle with wife Portia, trying to avoid the fallout from her toxic reign.

But the truth will finally come to light – and when it does, you can bet that it'll be a wild ride. Stay tuned for more updates as this story continues to unfold.