Ellen DeGeneres announces her talk show will end in 2022: 'It’s just not a challenge anymore'

The Ellen DeGeneres Show has become a guaranteed everyday staple for many since its debut in September 2003, but that will disappear following its 19th season in 2022.

The Hollywood Reporter's Lacey Rose broke the news exclusively Wednesday morning.

"When you're a creative person, you constantly need to be challenged—and as great as this show is, and as fun as it is, it's just not a challenge anymore," DeGeneres told Rose, who added that the 63-year-old told her staff Tuesday and the decision will be talked about further with Oprah Winfrey on Thursday's episode.

Rose provided key context: 

"But this past year has not been without controversy. On the heels of a series of personal swipes that DeGeneres says 'destroyed' her, came a July BuzzFeed News expose detailing allegations of a toxic workplace. The latter, which DeGeneres says she learned about through the press, prompted an internal investigation and the dismissal of key executives. The host, who's built her brand on the motto 'Be Kind,' opened season 18 in September with a lengthy apology, telling viewers, 'I learned that things happen here that never should have happened. I take that very seriously. And I want to say I am so sorry to the people who were affected.' While the mea culpa was widely viewed—Ellen’s highest rated premiere in years, per The New York Times—viewership quickly tumbled, even as Hollywood's A-list remained loyal guests."

And DeGeneres insisted that the public turmoil did not play a part in his decision to walk away:

"It almost impacted the show. It was very hurtful to me. I mean, very. But if I was quitting the show because of that, I wouldn’t have come back this season. So, it’s not why I’m stopping but it was hard because I was sitting at home, it was summer, and I see a story that people have to chew gum before they talk to me and I’m like, “Okay, this is hilarious.” Then I see another story of some other ridiculous thing and then it just didn’t stop. And I wasn’t working, so I had no platform, and I didn’t want to address it on [Twitter] and I thought if I just don’t address it, it’s going to go away because it was all so stupid."

DeGeneres also noted that she previously intended to stop the talk show following its 16th season but decided to sign on for three more years knowing all the while that it would conclude with Season 19.

The multi-Emmy-winning program aired its 3,000th show on April 29: