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[Dalek]

Ellen DeGeneres Wipes Away Tears As Obama Lauds Her For Breaking Barriers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqhta-aFWkU

Ellen DeGeneres on Tuesday was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor, alongside 20 other artists, athletes, scientists and philanthropists.

President Barack Obama ― who had to stop mid-address because he was “getting kind of choked up” ― bestowed the award on the television host for her unwavering ability to make “you laugh about something, rather than at someone.” He praised DeGeneres’ historic bravery for publicly coming out of the closet nearly two decades ago, putting her career in jeopardy.

“It’s easy to forget now, when we’ve come so far, where now marriage is equal under the law, just how much courage was required for Ellen to come out on the most public of stages almost 20 years ago. Just how important it was not just for the LGBT community, but for all us to see somebody so full of kindness and light. Somebody we liked so much, somebody who could be our neighbor or our colleague or our sister challenge our own assumptions. Remind us that we have more in common than we realize, push our country in the direction of justice. What an incredible burden it was to bear, to risk your career like that. People don’t do that very often.”

At the ceremony, she held back tears as a short speech was read celebrating her accomplishments:

“In a career spanning three decades, Ellen DeGeneres has lifted our spirits and brought joy to our lives as a stand-up comic, actor, and television star. In every role she reminds us to be kind to one another and to treat people as each of us wants to be treated. At a pivotal moment, her courage and candor helped change the hearts and minds of millions of Americans, accelerating our nation’s constant drive toward equality and acceptance for all. Again and again, Ellen DeGeneres has shown us that a single individual can make the world a more fun, more open, more loving place so long as we just keep swimming.”

Good for Ellen. I heard her interviewed on Howard Stern last year and she talked about how she was basically out of a job after her show was cancelled and no one would hire her-she went into a deep depression.

Ellen: “I was definitely getting attacked, but I was on such a high of like doing the right thing for me, that I didn't care. But then when the show got canceled, when I lost everything, that's when I was like, 'what am I gonna do?'”

[…]

Howard: “Do your agents start abandoning you?”

Ellen: “Yeah, I didn't have agents. I didn't have anybody.”

Howard: “You mean they wouldn't touch you anymore.”

Ellen: “Yeah.”

It's hard to believe that was 20 years ago.

 

[ColdPizza]

She absolutely deserves this accolade.

 

[SpaceWolf]

Love Ellen.

 

[Rentahamster]

She's come a long way. I'm glad it worked out for her in the end. Her journey was a hard one.

 

[MIMIC]

Saw it live yesterday. I was so happy for her!

 

[Mechanized]

She is absolutely deserving of this recognition. A fantastic person that has furthered the rights and acceptance of all people. Obama was even fighting back tears during the ceremony.

 

[Darryl M R]

Ellen deserves all of the accolades she have received from Obama.

Genuinely a good human being.

 

[Escape Goat]

Good for Ellen. I remember watching her show when she said she was a lesbian. I think her character was in an airport or bus station. Then my family stopped watching it.

I can't see Trump doing any of these kinds of events. Its going to be a freak show watching him try to conjure authentic sympathy for anyone.

 

[Agnostic]

I'm old enough to remember the shit she got 20 years ago. Good for her and well deserved.

 

[ShyMel]

Ellen is a delightful person and deserves this award. She did something that even today takes a lot of courage.

 

[Loxley]

Completely deserved. It's got to mean a heck of a lot receiving it from Obama as well.

 

[metalslimer]

Amazing how much progress had been made

 

[D6AMIA6N]

Ellen is awesome, really a cool person

 

[whyamihere]

Good for Ellen. I remember watching her show when she said she was a lesbian. I think her character was in an airport or bus station. Then my family stopped watching it.

I can't see Trump doing any of these kinds of events. Its going to be a freak show watching him try to conjure authentic sympathy for anyone.

Airport.

I still can't believe how far we've come since then.

 

[ColdPizza]

I can't see Trump doing any of these kinds of events. Its going to be a freak show watching him try to conjure authentic sympathy for anyone.

"Ellen is a tremendous, tremendous, lesbian. I love lesbians."

 

[Mahonay]

This makes me happy.

 

[Tagyhag]

It was a great ceremony filled with awe-inspiring people. I dread to see the next one.

 

[Man Called Aerodynamics]

Ellen's the best. Her work is always both funny and so positive. She totally deserves this.

 

[Brawly Likes to Brawl]

"Ellen is a tremendous, tremendous, lesbian. I love lesbians."

"Not Rosie though, I don't like her. Awful!"

 

[Dalek]

Airport.

I still can't believe how far we've come since then.

I'm old too-and it doesn't seem like too much time.

 

[ohlawd]

freaking onions in here

well deserved

 

[ColdPizza]

"Not Rosie though, I don't like her. Awful!"

Perfection.

 

[WillyFive]

Ellen is amazing.

Her first appearance on Johnny Carson is still legendary standup.

 

[dankir]

I still can't believe she's almost 60 years old.

 

[ArkhamFantasy]

Good for her, she always seems jolly and positive.

 

[Escape Goat]

This makes me happy.

 

[Reverend Funk]

shes a national treasure

 

[Meowster]

It's hard to imagine people disliking Ellen when there probably isn't a person that is more universally loved these days than her. Her bravery (and subsequent influence on LGBT socially and culturally) is so understated. I'm happy that she got this award and recognition.

 

[psychotron]

Love Ellen. She's an incredibly brave, selfless person.

 

[ghostofsparta]

Tear jerker for sure. I was very young when she came out but I can only imagine how much hate there was back then and how big of a risk that was.

It makes me sad that we'll likely see this award go to people like Kim Davis now instead.

 

[Hazmat]

I've always found her to be one of the most thoroughly charming people I've ever seen. I remember when she came out. For the people too young, it was a huge deal.

 

[Maledict]

I remember when she came out on her show, and in the U.K. Channel 4 ran a special themed 'coming out' night. It was at a major point in my life, as I was coming to terms with the sudden realisiation I was gay. Had a huge impact, and her bravery in coming out had a big influence on a lot of people's lives.

Well deserved, and a shining example of America at its best.

 

[The Boat]

I don't find her very funny, but she's awesome, this was very moving.

 

[Fladam]

Ellen is one of my big three heroes. This makes my heart so warm.

 

[User 479360]

Ellen's good people. Well-deserved.

I find her show's crowd to be super annoying, and get a bit annoyed at all of the happiness, but she's a good person and host.

 

[Head of Vengarl]

She's a wonderful person and Obama's words about her were really heart-warming.

 

[Zoe]

Good for Ellen. I remember watching her show when she said she was a lesbian. I think her character was in an airport or bus station. Then my family stopped watching it.

Airport, over the loud speaker.

My family stopped watching it soon after, but that was cause the show got pretty boring afterwards. Less comedy, more about finding herself.

 

[PsihoPerihelion]

She seems like a very nice person with a huge heart, so is nice to see her getting the recognition. Also this ceremonies are gonna be so awkward once fuhrer Trump assumes the charge.

 

[Skellig Gra]

Yeah I remember what a huge deal her coming out was. She is a perfect role model and ambassador for the lesbian community.

 

[Darksol]

That was sweet.

 

[giga]

Still remember that Time magazine cover. Well deserved.

 

[the_batman]

i thought she had already started crying when the guy before her was a son accepting the medal for his mom who already passed away.

i wonder if ellen ever gets tired of being nice and friendly to EVERYONE