Ellen DeGeneres' Post-Talk Show Plans Driving A Wedge Between Her & Portia de Rossi: Actress Is 'Tired Of Playing Second Fiddle,' Says Source
Dec. 5 2021, Published 12:05 a.m. ET
Make or break time!
Ellen DeGeneres is busy laying out her post-talk show life, but a source says her plans aren’t sitting well with her wife, Portia de Rossi.
The controversial television personality, 63, who’s wrapping up her daytime gabfest after season 19 next year, “has already mapped everything out — trips, fundraising events and flipping more real estate,” dishes the source.
“Ellen’s just assuming Portia will be by her side to explore any new challenge she chooses, but Portia’s getting tired of playing second fiddle,” the source spills.
The standoff has friends worried that the spouses of 13 years could be heading for another rough patch.
“Ellen has always pulled the strings in this relationship,” scoffs the source, who says she steered the actress, 48 — who hasn’t had a role since Arrested Development ended its run in 2019 — away from her on-screen career.
Want OK! each day? Sign up here!
“If Portia wants to return to acting, Ellen’s going to have to go along with that,” the source warns. “Now that she’s finally standing up for herself, this is Ellen’s chance to do the right thing!”
This isn't the first time the high profile couple have sparked rumors of tension in their marriage. Earlier this year, the famed TV host raised eyebrows among fans who worried their relationship might be on the rocks when DeGeneres admitted she was living with Friends alum Courteney Cox.
The 63-year-old quickly claimed it had nothing to do with "marital troubles" and even noted that de Rossi had stayed over for a night while Cox was away from home. "I should explain. I'm not having marital troubles. I'm not out of my house because I'm — I'm not living with Courteney Cox because I'm kicked out of my house," she explained.
"We sold our house here in Beverly Hills and I needed a place to stay," she went on, adding that "[Courteney was] kind enough to say, 'Yes, stay at my house.'"
DeGeneres and de Rossi were first linked in 2004 and tied the knot four years later in 2008.