Writers Guild Upset With Ellen For Going Back To Work

While Hollywood continues to feel the effects from the ongoing writers strike, Ellen DeGeneres has found herself in the eye of the storm over her decision to return to work after only one day off the job.

Ellen, who returned to the stage on Tuesday after putting production on hold on Monday in support of the strike, received significant backlash from the Writers Guild of America for her decision to go back to work.

Specifically, the talk show host received criticism from the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE), as Ellen had planned on heading to New York to tape her show later this month.

“Ellen DeGeneres went back on the air this week after honoring only one day of the writers strike. In anticipation of her plans to tape shows in New York City on November 19th and 20th, the Writers Guild of America, East is extremely disappointed to see that Ellen has chosen not to stand with writers during the strike,” a rep for the WGAE said in a statement released to Access Hollywood. “Ellen’s peers who host comedy/variety shows have chosen to support the writers and help them get a fair contract, Ellen has not. On her first show back, Ellen said she loves and supports her writers, but her actions prove otherwise.”

When she returned to the stage on Friday to tape her daytime talk show, Ellen began the show standing in the audience instead of taking the stage per usual to do a monologue.

“I want to say I love my writers. I love them. In honor of them today, I’m not going to do a monologue,” Ellen said, opting to skip her usual round of topical jokes and insights.

Ellen went on to defend her decision to return to the stage, saying it was largely out of respect for her audience.

“I support [the writers] and hope that they get everything they’re asking for. And I hope it works out soon. In the meantime, people have traveled across the country. They’ve made plans. They’re here. I want to do everything I can to make your trip enjoyable and give you a show,” she said.

However, it appears the WGAE aren’t the only ones unhappy with Ellen’s quick return to work.

“Ellen, you’re no friend of mine, you danced across the picket line!” an Ellen show staff member told Access Hollywood.

The staff member pointed out, that Ellen missed two shows during the Iggy-Gate controversy, yet she has only missed one show for the writers strike – a fact also not lost on the Writers Guild.

“We find it sad that Ellen spent an entire week crying and fighting for a dog that she gave away, yet she couldn’t even stand by writers for more than one day – writers who have helped make her extremely successful,” the WGAE statement continued. “We ask Ellen to cease doing shows immediately. She should stand by all writers and help us bring this strike to a quick conclusion. We owe that to the thousands of people who are caught in the middle.”

And while the late-night talk shows, including Jay Leno, David Letterman and Conan O’Brien, have halted production during the strike, it should be noted Ellen’s program falls more in line with first-run daytime syndicated shows such as “Dr. Phil,” “Oprah” and “Live with Regis & Kelly.”