Ellen DeGeneres' life changing moments

Ellen is most people's favorite female comedian. She is unapologetically herself at all times, which includes being quirky and lesbian. And at least one of those traits she inherited from her mother, as a video compilation posted below proves.

It may surprise people to know that Ellen DeGeneres never intended on coming out publicly as she feared that she would lose everything: her friends, family, and career. And she was almost right.

"‘Would I still be famous? Would they still love me if they knew I was gay?’ And my fear was, ‘No, they wouldn’t.'”

As much as Ellen brings much joy and laughter to the world, there are troubles that have affected her that most of us may not even be aware of.

LIFE IMITATES ART

Ellen chose to come out in an episode of her eponymous ABC sitcom and the channel immediately canceled the show. She explains what happened in the video below.

On the show, Ellen came out to her therapist who was played by none other than Oprah Winfrey. After the show's cancellation, Ellen came out for real on the "Oprah Show."

GUILT

Ellen's former girlfriend died in a tragic car accident while the two were split up. They happened to be at the same event that fateful night where Ellen's brother was playing in a band.

When she asked Ellen to go home with her, DeGeneres pretended not to hear her and she left the gig upset.

As Ellen was going home by cab later that night, she passed an accident scene, but not knowing it was her ex-girlfriend, she did not stop. The guilt of that night stays with her still.

To make matters worse, people didn't know that she was a lesbian and so she couldn't mourn her ex-girlfriend as her lover but as a "best friend" and "roommate."

CRITICS

Ellen has faced harsh criticism from fellow female comedians including the late-Joan Rivers and her friend Kathy Griffin. Kathy laid into Ellen after Joan's passing for refusing to pay tribute to her on her show.

Rivers was the first female late-night talk show host during the late 80's and early 90's, and she developed a reputation for being mean as a co-panelist on "Fashion Police."

Ellen continues to maintain that Rivers was mean, not funny, and their feud persists, even into the grave.

BANNED GUESTS

For all her love and light attitude, Ellen is merciless when she wants to be and has banned celebrities from her show for various reasons.

The "Ellen" show appears to be very accommodating and doesn't differentiate between A-list celebrities, YouTube personalities, Instagram influencers, and ordinary people who do extraordinary things that go viral.

But Degeneres draws a line at who she has on the show and there are some strict rules to follow. People with opposing viewpoints, like Donald Trump, are not likely to be included on her guest list any time soon even though Barack and Michelle Obama had been fan favorites.

Kim Burrell, a gospel singer, had her invitation to the show revoked after Ellen found out about her anti-gay preaching in church.

Her feud with Caitlyn Jenner, the transgender former-patriarch of the Kardashian clan, is known far and wide in the LGBTQ community.

Jenner's comments about why she had been anti-gay marriage really grated Ellen's carrot as it seemed that "traditionalist" Jenner was still not okay with same-sex marriage, even after her own transition into a woman.

MUSIC PIRACY

The show has seen Ellen dance with hundreds of audience members and celebrity guests alike, but record labels once sued the show for not going via the legal channels to get permission to use their copyrighted music.

It seems everyone including the former-President may have been dancing to pirated music all along. Her show's producers eventually worked out an amicable arrangement with the record labels.

SUPPORT

There was a time when Ellen's mom Betty DeGeneres didn't think she knew a single gay person in the world and yet today, she is a vocal gay rights activist.

When her daughter opened her eyes to the difficulties faced by the LGBTQ community, mom Betty chose to become the rock for Ellen to build her life on. She even wrote a book entitled: "Love, Ellen: A Mother/Daughter Journey."

Betty is a regular face to be found in the crowd at the "Ellen" show and is her daughter's biggest fan and champion. Enjoy this special tribute video Ellen put together for Betty's 80th birthday and see how close they are.

Which of these facts were unknown to you? Let us know in the comments.