Ellen DeGeneres' talk show will return for season 18 amid controversy

After severe backlash surrounding a hostile work environment and producers allegedly involved in sexual misconduct, The Ellen Degeneres Show was trending on social media - for all the wrong reasons.

With former employees stating how the show's "be kind" and toxic positivity chants were not applicable behind-the-scenes, the star became subject to harsh criticism from fans and followers across the globe.

However, having carved a popular name in the business, the leading talk show host has announced a return date for her show, claiming to address the elephant in the room.

"I can't wait to get back to work and back to our studio. And, yes, we're gonna talk about it," DeGeneres said in a statement announcing the show's September 21 return date.

Tiffany Haddish will join DeGeneres for the kick-off episode, with The Ellen DeGeneres Show to be taped at Warner Bros. minus an in-studio audience, which is commonplace during the pandemic.

The first month’s list of high-profile guests reads like a a rebuttal to questions about how DeGeneres and her show are perceived in the industry amid the controversy that cut against the host’s kindly image.

Kerry Washington, Alec Baldwin and Chrissy Teigen are set for the first week, with Chris Rock, Amy Schumer, Adam Sandler and Orlando Bloom appearing later in September, the show said.