Ellen DeGeneres And Her Wife Reportedly Needed A 'Fresh Start' In The UK Amid Marriage Struggles

Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi's move to the UK is reportedly linked to their marital struggles marriage, as they hope for a "fresh start."

Reports had earlier claimed the couple fled the country in response to the result of the recently held US presidential election.

However, a source has now shared that Ellen DeGeneres's career scandal seemingly tested her marriage with Portia de Rossi, prompting them to relocate to "freshen things up."

DeGeneres and de Rossi reportedly faced marital strife before they relocated abroad, but the couple chose to stay together and fight for their marriage.

According to the Daily Mail, the couple struggled after the former "Ellen DeGeneres Show" host was accused of creating a racist and toxic workplace environment. However, they stuck together and considered making the drastic change to "freshen things up."

"Ellen and Portia have had their share of ups and downs and had to fight to make it work for so long," a source told the news outlet. "Things have been very rocky ever since the show cancellation because, understandably, this shook Ellen. She went from being loved by everyone to the target for hatred."

They added, "She used to be the breadwinner, head of the household – and now she struggles to book work. They are not going to give up on each other just because there is a grey cloud looming. There is a lot of love left between them."

DeGeneres's career took a downturn after the accusations, with her show subsequently airing its last episode on May 26, 2022.

She delved into the scandal on her stand-up Netflix special "For Your Approval," where she joked about getting "kicked out of show business" for being "mean," as well as becoming the "most hated person in America."

"The hate went on for a long time, and I would try to avoid looking at the news," she recalled, per People Magazine. "The 'be kind' girl wasn't kind. That was the headline."

Meanwhile, a source told the Daily Mail, "They moved to the UK for a fresh start. It was a big step and will be a test of their relationship, but it was one that was needed."

"Portia is interested in doing some theater, but mostly they are looking forward to spending their life together away from Hollywood," they added.

Having gone through a rough patch, DeGeneres spoke about how she was able to go through the trying phase with the help of her wife and that they're both "dancing now."

"I'm making jokes about what happened to me, but it was devastating," she said. "It took a long time for me to want to do anything again."

The comedian recently shared how deeply she appreciates her wife as they marked their 20th anniversary of dating.

DeGeneres took to her Instagram account Sunday to post a picture of her and de Rossi standing in what appeared to be their countryside estate, as she shared a sweet tribute celebrating the incredible feat.

"20 years ago today we began this relationship not realizing what a long beautiful adventure this would be," she captioned the photo. "You are the best thing that ever happened in my life. … So happy we get to travel and explore the world together in the next 20 years, and looking forward to our first snowy Christmas."

The comedian added, "P.S. For those of you concerned, our UK farmhouse did NOT flood," shutting down rumors that her new home had flooded.

DeGeneres and de Rossi were initially said to have moved to the UK because of Trump's win in the US election, but a source told the Daily Mail that there was more to the couple's relocation.

"With all the ill will towards her, she was looking to move away even before the election," the source began. "And as things panned out with Trump winning, she is glad she is making the move and going to be away from the US."

The source continued, "She has the one person that still loves her, Portia, and she is ready to leave everyone who in her mind left her hanging out to dry. If she considers it her retirement, so be it."

"An enormous part of the US doesn't like her because of her sexual preferences, and others were turned off by her persona, which some perceived to be fake in the wake of the workplace allegations," they explained.

According to a source, DeGeneres finds it "easier to move away from her problems" than to "confront them." They noted that her exit from the US "seems like a sad end to what she once was in people's minds."

Meanwhile, the comedian and her wife have slowly settled down in their new neighborhood as they were spotted visiting Clarkson's pub in the Cotswolds sometime last month.

They boast of A-list neighbors like David and Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss, Patrick Stewart, Elizabeth Hurley, Jeremy Clarkson, and Damien Hirst, among many others.