Greyson Chance has revealed he has “never met someone more manipulative, more self-centred, and more blatantly opportunistic” as Ellen DeGeneres.
In an exclusive interview with Rolling Stone, the pop-star opened up about his experiences with the former talk-show host and comedian.
The 25-year-old received his big break following a video of him performing Lady Gaga’s ‘Paparazzi’ went viral.
He then made his debut appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show soon after.
DeGeneres co-launched her own record label, which signed Chance and bought him a brand new piano.
The singer stated that Ellen had offered to mentor him and help his mother navigate the entertainment industry.
However, their relationship soon deteriorated.
Chance outlined that DeGeneres was in complete control of his touring and recording schedules, as well as his styling.
“My whole week, my whole month, my whole year could change [with] one text message from her,” he explained. “That was horrible.”
He added that “if she had an opinion of any sort, the whole thing changed.”
“She would come in and look at a rack, yell at stylists, berate people in front of me and say, ‘This is what you’re wearing on the show,’” Chance recalled.
“She was just degrading to people.”
Greyson was promptly dropped from Ellen’s label when his second record under her management underperformed.
The talk-show host cut contact with the up-and-coming star, and would not speak to him.
“I couldn’t get a hold of her. Couldn’t talk to her,” he told Rolling Stone.
“Whenever I would come on the show, it was such a fake smile. She wouldn’t even ask, ‘How are you doing? How are you holding up?’ It was just like, ‘Here’s what we’re going to talk about. We’ll see you on there.’”
Chance made a second appearance on The Ellen Show in 2019.
During the interview, DeGeneres claimed to be proud of Chance for coming out as gay two years prior.
“She had nothing to do with that. … [When I came out,] I hadn’t spoken to her in years,” Chance says.
“That’s so messed up, that you’re now showing the world as if we’re so tight. We’re so good. And behind the scenes, you are this insanely manipulative person.”
He reflected on the interactions with DeGeneres and stated: “When I look at the interviews and I look at my eyes, I can see so much anxiety. I can just see so much PTSD because I’m there holding on for dear life”.
The musician decided from then on he would not make any further appearances on Ellen’s show.
He even turned down a prime spot on one of the final episodes of the programme and said he “had to do it for my integrity.”
Greyson’s latest album, Palladium, was released on 22 September.
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