NeNe: Celebrity Apprentice Was 'Toxic' for Me

NeNe Leakes never had second thoughts about quitting Celebrity Apprentice. It all just got to be too much, she says.

"I don't regret it. I felt very good about it. I always do what my gut tells me to do," the Real Housewives of Atlanta star says in an interview airing Wednesday on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

She adds: "I'm a grown woman, and nobody makes decisions for me. I make my own decisions. It was a toxic situation for me."

Particularly poisonous, of course, was her feud with Star Jones. In an episode two weeks ago, Leakes unloaded on Jones in front of a client, then walked off the show. She doesn't regret that either, but admits it didn't need to get that ugly.

"I needed to get it out," she says. "I wish I could have maybe had a different delivery, maybe better word choices, but I'm OK with it. I felt she deserved it. I know everybody in Hollywood knows I'm telling the truth [about Jones]."

Of course, things evened out this past week, when Donald Trump fired Jones. "When I said on the show yesterday that Star got fired, there were applauses in the audience," says DeGeneres. "People were thrilled that Star got fired."

To which Leakes replies: "Yeah, let's clap about it."

Credit: PEOPLE (Tim Nudd)

NeNe: Celebrity Apprentice Was 'Toxic' for Me

NeNe Leakes never had second thoughts about quitting Celebrity Apprentice. It all just got to be too much, she says.

"I don't regret it. I felt very good about it. I always do what my gut tells me to do," the Real Housewives of Atlanta star says in an interview airing Wednesday on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

She adds: "I'm a grown woman, and nobody makes decisions for me. I make my own decisions. It was a toxic situation for me."

Particularly poisonous, of course, was her feud with Star Jones. In an episode two weeks ago, Leakes unloaded on Jones in front of a client, then walked off the show. She doesn't regret that either, but admits it didn't need to get that ugly.

"I needed to get it out," she says. "I wish I could have maybe had a different delivery, maybe better word choices, but I'm OK with it. I felt she deserved it. I know everybody in Hollywood knows I'm telling the truth [about Jones]."

Of course, things evened out this past week, when Donald Trump fired Jones. "When I said on the show yesterday that Star got fired, there were applauses in the audience," says DeGeneres. "People were thrilled that Star got fired."

To which Leakes replies: "Yeah, let's clap about it."

Credit: PEOPLE (Tim Nudd)

NeNe: Celebrity Apprentice Was 'Toxic' for Me

NeNe Leakes never had second thoughts about quitting Celebrity Apprentice. It all just got to be too much, she says.

"I don't regret it. I felt very good about it. I always do what my gut tells me to do," the Real Housewives of Atlanta star says in an interview airing Wednesday on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

She adds: "I'm a grown woman, and nobody makes decisions for me. I make my own decisions. It was a toxic situation for me."

Particularly poisonous, of course, was her feud with Star Jones. In an episode two weeks ago, Leakes unloaded on Jones in front of a client, then walked off the show. She doesn't regret that either, but admits it didn't need to get that ugly.

"I needed to get it out," she says. "I wish I could have maybe had a different delivery, maybe better word choices, but I'm OK with it. I felt she deserved it. I know everybody in Hollywood knows I'm telling the truth [about Jones]."

Of course, things evened out this past week, when Donald Trump fired Jones. "When I said on the show yesterday that Star got fired, there were applauses in the audience," says DeGeneres. "People were thrilled that Star got fired."

To which Leakes replies: "Yeah, let's clap about it."

Credit: PEOPLE (Tim Nudd)

Star Jones Compares NeNe To A Wild Animal

The last time the Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes sat down to talk with Ellen DeGeneres, she called fellow Celebrity Apprentice contestant Star Jones "a disaster." After Sunday night's vicious spat between the contestants, Jones appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show – and she didn't miss her chance to strike back.

"What were you thinking when NeNe was going off like that?" DeGeneres asks Jones in an episode airing Tuesday.

"I was thinking my grandmother is going to watch this," Jones says. "I was thinking I need to keep calm."

She also couldn't resist comparing her costar to a feral animal. "When you're confronted in the wild with an un-caged animal you're supposed to retreat," Jones says. "You're not supposed to attack."

"No," says DeGeneres, "with a bear you're supposed to appear bigger. You're supposed to get larger."

"If you can tell me how to get bigger than that, I got money for you," says Star.

Ellen also asked if a reconciliation loomed anywhere in the future for the two reality stars: "It looks like at the end of it you started making up, although you didn't want to do it on camera," she says. "How do you all get along now?"

"I don't know that girl and I don't hang with people like that."

Credit: PEOPLE (Sarah Durham Wilson)

Star Jones Compares NeNe To A Wild Animal

The last time the Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes sat down to talk with Ellen DeGeneres, she called fellow Celebrity Apprentice contestant Star Jones "a disaster." After Sunday night's vicious spat between the contestants, Jones appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show – and she didn't miss her chance to strike back.

"What were you thinking when NeNe was going off like that?" DeGeneres asks Jones in an episode airing Tuesday.

"I was thinking my grandmother is going to watch this," Jones says. "I was thinking I need to keep calm."

She also couldn't resist comparing her costar to a feral animal. "When you're confronted in the wild with an un-caged animal you're supposed to retreat," Jones says. "You're not supposed to attack."

"No," says DeGeneres, "with a bear you're supposed to appear bigger. You're supposed to get larger."

"If you can tell me how to get bigger than that, I got money for you," says Star.

Ellen also asked if a reconciliation loomed anywhere in the future for the two reality stars: "It looks like at the end of it you started making up, although you didn't want to do it on camera," she says. "How do you all get along now?"

"I don't know that girl and I don't hang with people like that."

Credit: PEOPLE (Sarah Durham Wilson)

Star Jones Compares NeNe To A Wild Animal

The last time the Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes sat down to talk with Ellen DeGeneres, she called fellow Celebrity Apprentice contestant Star Jones "a disaster." After Sunday night's vicious spat between the contestants, Jones appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show – and she didn't miss her chance to strike back.

"What were you thinking when NeNe was going off like that?" DeGeneres asks Jones in an episode airing Tuesday.

"I was thinking my grandmother is going to watch this," Jones says. "I was thinking I need to keep calm."

She also couldn't resist comparing her costar to a feral animal. "When you're confronted in the wild with an un-caged animal you're supposed to retreat," Jones says. "You're not supposed to attack."

"No," says DeGeneres, "with a bear you're supposed to appear bigger. You're supposed to get larger."

"If you can tell me how to get bigger than that, I got money for you," says Star.

Ellen also asked if a reconciliation loomed anywhere in the future for the two reality stars: "It looks like at the end of it you started making up, although you didn't want to do it on camera," she says. "How do you all get along now?"

"I don't know that girl and I don't hang with people like that."

Credit: PEOPLE (Sarah Durham Wilson)

Ellen's Idol Debut

Last night Ellen DeGeneres made her debut as a judge on American Idol. She seemed to fit right in with Simon, Randy, and Kara on the judges panel. Ellen added in some humor like when she had some of the contestants step forward, backward and side to side before revealing who would go on to the next round. But she also provided some helpful critiques in a refreshingly nice way to balance out Simon's usual blunt nature.

There were also several standout performances already in these early stages of the competition. Contestant Andrew Garcia did a very unique acoustic cover of Paula Abdul's Straight Up and Casey James really showed his talent with not only his great voice, but also his blues guitar skills.

Tonight we will see how Ellen copes with day two as an Idol judge and also see how the contestants manage with the always drama filled group night.

Enjoy this highlight from last night!

Ellen DeGeneres Speaks Out on Body Image and 'American Idol'

Ellen DeGeneres is sick and tired of the double standard when it comes to women and body image. The talk show host and “American Idol” judge discusses the issue with Katie Couric on CBS Evening News saying, "It's a double standard because there are men with really beautiful women that don't have great bodies, and yet nobody's saying anything about that. Women [think they] need to keep themselves up to look good for a man or for society. It's not fair."

In the interview with Couric, Ellen says airbrushing is one of the things that really bothers her the most. "Women are looking at bodies like that and going, 'My stomach doesn't look like that. I'm supposed to look like that?! So they starve themselves and they work out like crazy."

Beauty isn't about being stick-skinny, Ellen says it's about being healthy and happy. She adds: "It's not important. We put the wrong emphasis on what beauty is and what health is. Health is being vibrant and having energy and being happy. If you're healthy, it's got nothing to do with how much you weigh."

Ellen tells CBS Evening News that her relationship with wife Portia de Rossi is what keeps her healthy and happy.

It also sounds like Ellen is bringing the same attitude of acceptance and kindness to the “American Idol” set. She says she is finding it difficult to be critical of the contestants. "I'm getting good at delivering bad news, myself, but I'm trying to do it in a tender way. … I hate hurting people's feelings, so that, I think, is the hardest part. I think we have good people … I'm going to fight very, very hard to keep the people that I believe in, so that we have a wide variety … somebody for everybody, I hope."

Drama Between "Idol" Judges Already?

It seems there is already drama stirring up on the set of "American Idol" between Simon Cowell and Ellen DeGeneres. Simon arrived more than 90 minutes late to the first taping of the show, causing Ellen and the other judges to waste their time waiting for the veteran judge.

According to the Sun Times, Ellen was especially irritated due to her very tight schedule. She has already moved had to change her schedule to accommodate “American Idol”, including moving up the taping of her own talk show. With Simon leaving at the end of the season, “Idol” isn’t worried about leaking his bad habits anymore. A source told Pop Eater, "You should expect many more nasty leaks about Simon. The show no longer feels the need to protect him. Simon has been late for years and is baffled that all of a sudden, after he announces he is leaving the show, leaks to the press have started to occur."

Possible replacements for Simon are also beginning to surface. The Sun Times reported that the “Idol” producers want the new judge to have major music industry credibility. Replacements could include Tommy Mottola, Guy Oseary (Madonna’s business partner), and Jimmy Lovine.

Paula Abdul Impersonates Ellen Degeneres

Paula Abdul finally decided to address (sort of) her departure from American Idol and her new replacement, Ellen Degeneres. By which we mean she put on a blonde wig, a pantsuit, and a pair of sneakers and danced her way down the aisle on VH1 Divas, impersonating the talk show host's typical on-air antics. Abdul, however, made it clear that the joke was all in good fun and even told Degeneres to call her if she ever needs advice. Wonder if that will ever happen. Check out the video below:

VH1 Divas | Divas Video

Ellen DeGeneres is New American Idol Judge

Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres will sit alongside Randy Jackson, Simon Cowell and Kara DioGuardi as the new American Idol judge. Ellen will add in her unique perspectives as the fourth judge when season 9 of American Idol premieres in January.

This announcement from Fox comes about a month after Paula Abdul stated that she will not be returning to the show. DeGeneres will join the judges panel after the already in progress auditions.

"I'm thrilled to be the new judge on American Idol," DeGeneres said. "I've watched since the beginning, and I've always been a huge fan. So getting this job is a dream come true, and think of all the money I'll save from not having to text my vote."

American Idol executive producer and creator Simon Fuller is excited to have DeGeneres on board. "I could not be more excited to have Ellen join the American Idol family," Fuller said. "Ellen has been a fan of the show for many years, and her love of music and understanding of the American public will bring a unique human touch to our judging panel. I can't wait for this next season to begin."

Some guest judges for season 9 of American Idol include Victoria Beckham, Mary J. Blige, Kristin Chenoweth, Joe Jonas, Neil Patrick Harris, Avil Lavigne, Katy Perry, and Shania Twain.

Talk Show Hosts Collide

May as well call them new BFF's. Ellen DeGeneres announced on Thursday night (March 20) that she’ll finally get her wish and be on the cover of “O” Magazine. The 51-year-old talk show host has been trying to get on the cover of Oprah’s magazine.

It's been a topic that has come up during her show for weeks! Oprah made a guest appearance on Friday’s taping of the Ellen DeGeneres Show to talk about “the fantastic idea.”


Ellen first broke the news on her twitter page saying, “Oprah just asked me to be on the cover of “O” magazine!” People are really Twittering like crazy. It's the new Facebook!

To make things official, Oprah made a guest appearance on Friday’s taping of the Ellen DeGeneres Show to talk about “the fantastic idea.” Oprah doesn't share the cover of her magazine with just anyone. The only other person to share the cover of 'O' magazine was First Lady Michelle Obama. Watch Ellen break the news to Oprah and her reaction:

*Double Dose Of New Music Videos*

It's your lucky day, PCM reader. Kanye West has released his new music video for his single, "Love Lockdown," and The Pussycat Dolls have released the music video for the Darkchild remix of “Whatcha Think About That” featuring Missy Elliot! Kanye premiered his video on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Ellen & Portia's Wedding Video

Talkshow host Ellen Degeneres and her newlywed partner Portia De Rossi released their intimate wedding video from the day of their wedding in California on August 16th. It's a very sweet little video, if you cry easily at weddings, haha, you may shed a tear at this cute little video!

A New Covergirl!

Someone new and unexpected has signed on to be the next fresh face of the cosmetics line Cover Girl. The queen of day time talk shows, Ellen DeGeneres!

The newly wed, joins other celebrities like Faith Hill, Drew Barrymore, Tyra Banks, and Queen Latifa who have also modeled for the cosmetic company.

Sources tell us that the campaign is all set to begin shooting this week and Ellen is receiving $1 million for it!

Ellen also did a bit of modeling for W Magazine (pictured to the right) and we think she looked awesome!

Ellen DeGeneres & Kingston Rossdale: BFF's?

Talk show queen Ellen DeGeneres and her new wife Portia di Rossi were spotted taking a walk along a Malibu beach yesterday afternoon. At one point, the newlywed ladies bumped onto rocker Gavin Rossdale and his 2-year-old son Kingston with whom they chatted for a bit before moving on. Ellen is pictured here having a cute little moment with the baby Rossdale. How adorable!

What about kids of their own? Ellen has commented, “We go back and forth. I don’t know if it’s our immediate future. It’s something we talk about every few months. In a way, we want to be selfish because we love our life, but we know how much that adds to it. If they would be as pretty as Brad and Angelina’s kids, we might.”

Ellen & Portia's Weekend Wedding - It's Official!

Wedding bells this weekend! Ellen DeGeneres, 50, and Portia de Rossi, 35, tied the knot in front of 19 guests during an intimate ceremony at their home in Beverly Hills, California, Saturday night. Talk about a small wedding for a celeb couple - only 19 guests?! It must be true love!

Portia wore a backless, light pink dress, while Ellen opted for pants, button-up shirt and vest — all in white. The ladies have been dating since December 2004.

Wedding Bells Ring for Ellen

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi are finally tying the knot this weekend in California.

After the California Supreme Court's ruling that legalized same-sex marriages the couple made it public they intended to get married. This weekend the pair will wed in a "small intimate" ceremony attended by family and close friends.

"It's something that we've wanted to do ... we are very, very excited," Ellen said on her show.

"Planning a wedding is very stressful. It's crazy," says Ellen. "My gardener is now invited."

DeGeneres/de Rossi Wedding Plans

In happy couple news, TV host (and recent Daytime Emmy Award winner at the ceremony this past Friday night) Ellen DeGeneres is currently planning her "dream wedding" with girlfriend, Portia de Rossi. The ceremony is going to be a doozy, claims DeGeneres. The pair have set a date for the wedding and are busy with the preparation for the big day!


“Yes, we have set a wedding date,” said DeGeneres. “How do I feel about it? I obviously feel like it’s long overdue. I think someday people will look back on this like women not having the right to vote and segregation and anything else that seems ridiculous that we don’t all have the same rights.”

Ellen & Portia are getting hitched!

After Califoria's Supreme Court struck down the ban on gay marriage, Ellen DeGeneres announced to her live studio audience that she and long-time girlfriend Portia De Rossi are getting hitched.

"I'm very excited," she told the crowd, who gave her a standing ovation.

The two have been dating since December 2004 and DeGeneres, 50, said the key to her relationship with her 35-year-old girlfriend is their ability to learn from each other.

"She's taught me lessons about myself, and I feel like I've taught her," the host of the Ellen DeGeneres Show said. "We've both changed and grown, and we just feel like, 'Oh, okay, this is completion.'"

Ellen also spoke to the The Advocate about her decision to wed.

"I'm thrilled that the California Supreme Court overturned the ban on gay marriage," she told the magazine. "I can't wait to get married. We all deserve the same rights, and I believe that someday... not allowing gays to marry will seem as absurd as not allowing women to vote."

The episode will air today, a day after DeGeneres made her announcement.