Leah Remini gave Ellen DeGeneres a friendly smack during her interview segment on yesterday’s episode of ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show.’ The playful slap came after the famed CBS sitcom actress accused the multi-Daytime Emmy Award-winning talk show host of faking interest in her story, as reported by Insider.
During her appearance on the series, Remini told DeGeneres about her and her husband Angelo Pagan’s attempts to scare their 17-year-old daughter, Sofia. Halfway through the former ‘King of Queens’ star detailed recollection, she glanced once over each of her shoulders.
“You’re acting really interested,” the Primetime Emmy Award-winning documentary series host said, as she turned back to the Golden Globe-nominated talk show host. Remini then pointed a finger at DeGeneres and added, “I don’t know if you’re doing that thing where you’re into my story.”
The talk show host was seemingly startled by the shift in the conversation’s direction. She tried to reassure her guest by responding, “I’m always interested.” The actress then exuberantly yelled back, “You’re not, Ellen! Stop!”
Remini proceeded to get out of her seat, lean over to DeGeneres and hit her arm several times. “Ow! It’s my last season. Don’t hurt me,” the host jokingly pleaded with her guest as she pulled her arm away.
The actress then made it clear that the physical interaction between her and the host was all in good fun. The former ‘Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath’ host then told the comedian that she loved her and was “so happy” to be on the talk show’s 19th and final season.
Remini and DeGeneres then laughed off the moment. They later reminisced about the actress’ early visits to the hit NBC talk show.
The playful interaction between the two performers came after DeGeneres confirmed in May that her eponymous talk show will be ending next year. The decision came after several former staffers on the long-running series spent months alleging that their previous boss engaged in a toxic work environment on the set.
DeGeneres addressed the allegations in a letter to her staff, which has been publicly published by The Hollywood Reporter. In the letter, the host assumed responsibility for the issues on set, but refrained from mentioning the accusations about her own behavior.
In her season 18 opening monologue, which aired in September of last year, DeGeneres told the audience she “learned that things happened here that never should have happened.” She went on to apologize to those affected by any workplace misconduct on her set.
But even after the public apology, the series’ viewership numbers fell as allegations about DeGeneres and her work place ethics continued to surface. However, the host said the staffers’ allegations didn’t play a role in her decision to walk away from her long-time hosting gig. “As great as this show is, and as fun as it is, it’s just not a challenge anymore. I need something new to challenge me,” she told The Hollywood Reporter.
