Louisiana comedian Ellen DeGeneres is facing online criticism after donating just $5,000 to support the family of a former producer of her show who recently passed away.
DeGeneres first shared an emotional video on her Instagram account announcing that Matthew Wright, a former executive producer of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, had died unexpectedly.
In the video, DeGeneres was teary-eyed as she spoke about the kind of person Wright was. “God, he was an amazing guy. He made me laugh, he would surprise me with things he did all the time,” she said. She then added, “He was smart, he was kind … I mean, everyone loved him. I loved him. And it’s just shocking, it’s shocking.”
While the emotional video prompted many fans to sympathize with DeGeneres and share their condolences, she later faced criticism over a donation she made. Following Wright’s sudden death while working, his family set up a GoFundMe campaign, to which the talk show host contributed.
DeGeneres donated $5,000 to the campaign, an amount that drew criticism online. Many believed she could have contributed more to support her former producer’s family. As of now, the GoFundMe has raised $74,865, surpassing its $50,000 goal.
DeGeneres’ $5,000 donation drew criticism from people who believed she could have contributed more given her estimated net worth. Some argued that the host, who has earned millions throughout her career, could have done more to support her former colleague’s family following his sudden death. However, others defended the donation, pointing out that $5,000 was still a generous contribution and that DeGeneres was not obligated to give anything. They also noted that the GoFundMe had already surpassed its original $50,000 goal thanks to donations from other supporters.
Fans Slam Louisiana Comedian Ellen DeGeneres Over Donation
Many fans online criticized Louisiana comedian Ellen DeGeneres over the amount she donated, arguing that they expected her to contribute more. “She’s worth millions and she basically gave his family $10,” one person wrote. Another commented, “girl this ain’t [expletive], your net worth is 500M.”
Others continued criticizing DeGeneres over the amount she donated. One person wrote, “She cares much about the people that worked on her show that made her a millionaire, she give some money she find in pair of jeans, she was about to put in the washing machine.” Another commented, “lol, that’s like leaving a $1 tip on a $5000 meal. She’s a [expletive].”
The donation prompted discussion about whether wealthy celebrities should be expected to make larger contributions when supporting others in need. It also highlighted differing views on charitable giving, with some arguing that the gesture matters more than the amount donated.
