Ellen DeGeneres Discusses Coming Out on ‘Oprah’s Master Class’

DeGeneres, 57, came out on the Oprah Winfrey Show back in February 1997, and her character on her popular sitcom, Ellen, came out to her therapist (played by Winfrey) the following April.

Ellen DeGeneres is open about being gay – but there was a time when she didn’t think she would ever be.

Daytime talk show host Ellen DeGeneres discussed her relationship with wife Portia de Rossi on Sunday’s episode of Oprah’s Master Class on OWN. She realized lying to her fans about who she was wasn’t worth it anymore.

“I didn’t think I was going to come out period”, Ellen admits. Would they still love me if they knew I was gay?’ And my fear was, ‘No, they wouldn’t.’ Then it made me feel shame that I was hiding something. She explained that most people rarely have to announce their sexual orientation: “to say that sentence out loud in front of a whole bunch of people is scary as hell and emotional and empowering which is why most people cry when they tell their parents or tell anybody”, she said.

But despite her success the star never lets it go to her head and tries to remember a few of the life skills she’s picked up over the years.

DeGeneres added that her biggest fears surfaced when she calmed her mind. “I’ve learnt that obviously from a few tough times (because) it gives you compassion, you understand what it feels like to be on the end of hurt”.