In the 1990s, Anne Heche’s career started inclining toward tremendous success. At the same time as she thought that nothing can stop her in her professional acting endeavors her relationship with the popular TV host Ellen DeGeneres happened.
Ellen DeGeneres also came out of the closet and confessed on her sexual orientation back at around the same time. With lightning speed, the news spread around the world and this ‘new’ relationship became one of the most widely spoken about relationships.
How did Anne Heche’s Relationship With Ellen DeGeneres Ruin Her Career?
At the moment it looked like this popularity may help Heche boost her career, however, it was not like that. And she became aware of it. Back in 2020, in an interview for Page Six, Heche pointed out that the relationship with Ellen ruined her career.
“It changed my life forever.” – Heche told Page Six. “The stigma attached to that relationship was so bad. I didn’t do a studio picture for 10 years. They fired me from a 10 million dollar picture deal.”
Back in the 90s the public did not accept gay relationships well. Homophobia was a part of everyday life. People simply did not accept gay relationships as they accept them today.
“I was told if I took Ellen, I would lose my Fox contract.” – Heche said for Page Six. “I took Ellen to the premiere anyway. The security then ushered me out before the end of the movie. They told me, I was not allowed to go to my own after party for fear they would get pictures of me with a woman.”
The scandalous relationship ended suddenly in 2000. The couple released a joint statement claiming that they have parted ways. However, there was no clear explanation of why and how the breakup happened.
Around one year later, Ellen came out with information that even she is not sure of the reason for the breakup. As she claimed, Heche decided to walk away from her and never speak to her anymore without giving any further explanation on why she made the choice.
“She walked out the door and I haven’t spoken to her since, I don’t have the answers.” – Ellen said for the Los Angeles Times in 2001.
It took 20 years before Anne Heche told the real reason for the breakup. In a podcast in 2021, Anne Heche called Ellen a ‘bitch’ that is obsessed with money.
“I broke up with her because her goal was to have a lot of money.” – Heche claimed. “Mine was to find love and hers was, ‘I want 60 billion dollars’. Good, good luck. Our forks are never going to meet.”
Heche lost her life after a tragic car accident in Los Angeles.
