Greyson Chance calls Ellen Degeneres “manipulative,” “self-centered” in shocking new interview
new interview with Rolling Stone, singer-songwriter Greyson Chance opens up about his traumatic experiences working with Ellen Degeneres over the years, saying of the TV personality: “I’ve never met someone more manipulative, more self-centered, and more blatantly opportunistic than her.”At 12 years old, Chance became a national sensation after a video went viral of him performing Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” at school.
In the wake of Justin Bieber‘s success, music industry execs were scouring the internet for untapped talent, and Chance was exactly that when Degeneres and her team asked him to guest on her daytime The Ellen Degeneres Show in 2010.Needless to say, the first years were a whirlwind for the young musician.
Inspired by Chance’s success on the show, Degeneres launched the eleveneleven record label, signing him as her first artist.
As he recalls from those early days, the host was “really invested” in his career—to the point that she “became domineering and way too controlling.”Related: Rosie O’Donnell reveals what Ellen did to hurt her feelings: “I never really got over it”Throughout the confessional interview, Chance details the shocking ways Degeneres attempted to take the reins on his life, like the time she called up his mother, Lisa, and berated her for not making him watch Bieber’s documentary, Never Say Never, while on tour.“My whole week, my whole month, my whole year could change [with] one text message from her,” explains Chance. “That was horrible.”But things started to change when Chance’s career slowed down.
