Sofia Vergara is stepping up to defend Ellen DeGeneres amid intense drama surrounding the talk show host, including accusations that she made fun of the Colombian star’s accent during a 2015 episode.
The newly-resurfaced clip finds Vergara, 48, and DeGeneres, 62, discussing a CoverGirl commercial they filmed together, with the daytime host pointing out the “America’s Got Talent” judge’s English while asking why producers gave her such complicated copy to read. Many fans took this as DeGeneres mocking Vergara’s accent, leading the television star to defend her fellow funny lady, saying she was “in on the joke.”
“Two comedians having fun with each other to entertain. I was never a victim guys, I was always in on the joke,” Vergara tweeted alongside the viral clip in question.
While some agreed that the two women did nothing more than share a laugh, others refused to cut DeGeneres any slack.
“My parents, who have heavy spanish accents, didn’t have the option to be “in on the joke,” wrote one disappointed tweeter. “Instead, they were the butt of jokes. And as a child of immigrants, I was always picked on because of that. Your “entertainment” may lead to some to think they have a free pass to ridicule.”
Former staffers have recently spoken out against the comic, claiming she created a toxic work environment for her team and citing everything from general rudeness to higher-level employees engaging in sexual misconduct. The allegations prompted WarnerMedia to launch an official investigation with assistance from a third-party firm.
Three senior producers — executive producers Ed Glavin and Kevin Leman and co-executive producer Jonathan Norman — have been ousted from the Warner Bros.-distributed syndicated strip.