Ellen DeGeneres Reflects on Memorable 'Ellen' Coming Out Episode | THR News - video Dailymotion

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Ellen DeGeneres paid tribute to a historic moment in TV history on her talk show on Friday when she celebrated the 20-year anniversary of the coming out episode of her sitcom 'Ellen.'

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00:00It was the hardest thing that I ever had to do in my life and I would not change one moment of it.

00:05Ellen DeGeneres paid tribute to a historic moment in TV history on her talk show on Friday

00:10when she celebrated the 20-year anniversary of the coming-out episode of her sitcom, Ellen.

00:14The Puppy episode, which she revealed was titled as such to keep the moment a secret

00:19and as a reference to the Hesitant Studio, featured the comedian's character, Ellen Morgan,

00:23coming out as gay to a potential love interest played by Laura Dern.

00:27The episode aired on April 30, 1997 and was the first time a lead character came out on TV.

00:34Twenty years later, it continues to be hailed as the moment that helped usher in a more inclusive era of television.

00:40GLAAD president Sarah-Kate Ellis said,

00:49To celebrate the milestone, DeGeneres invited Dern and Oprah Winfrey, who played her therapist on the episode,

00:55to join her on her talk show along with former Ellen cast members Jolie Fisher, Clea Lewis and David Anthony Higgins.

01:02It was their first cast reunion since the comedy ended its run on ABC in 1998.

01:07Dern and Winfrey revealed they both received hate for appearing on the sitcom episode,

01:11but said it was a privilege to be a part of the iconic moment.

01:14Dern went on to say,

01:16There is no greater gift than being the person that was with you and looking in your eyes as you said those words.

01:21Winfrey told DeGeneres,

01:23You would not be who you are. You wouldn't be able to open hearts and touch hearts and change people's minds

01:28and make a difference in the world had you not had the courage to do that.

01:31Looking back on the moment two decades later, DeGeneres shared,

01:35And the fact that all of you and everyone at home is watching me and willing to accept me into your homes every day,

01:40when no one thought that would ever happen again, it means the world to me.

01:44For more clips from Ellen's anniversary special and for much more on the impact of her coming out episode, go to THR.com.

01:50I'm Tiffany Taylor for The Hollywood Reporter News.

Ellen DeGeneres Reflects on Memorable 'Ellen' Coming Out Episode | THR News

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