Ellen DeGeneres Shares New Health Diagnoses in Final Netflix Comedy Special
Ellen DeGeneres has returned to the spotlight with a surprising level of personal honesty. During her final Netflix stand-up special, For Your Approval, the 66-year-old comedian spoke openly about aging, self-reflection, and a wave of medical diagnoses she received after stepping away from television. Her appearance onstage marked one of her most candid public moments since leaving daytime TV, and she used it not only for humor but also to reveal what she has learned about her health.
DeGeneres told viewers that in the years following The Ellen DeGeneres Show, she finally took the time to visit doctors and undergo tests she had long postponed. The results, she explained, were unexpected. She said she now lives with osteoporosis, arthritis, OCD, and ADHD—conditions she believes went unnoticed because of the nonstop pace of her talk-show career. “Honestly, I don’t even know how I’m upright right now,” she joked while speaking to the live audience. “I’m basically a sandcastle with legs. One strong shower and I might dissolve.”
The entertainer recounted discovering she had “full-blown osteoporosis” after a bone-density exam she light-heartedly described as a “silly bone density test.” Osteoporosis is a condition known to weaken bones over time, particularly in older adults, increasing the risk of fractures. DeGeneres said the diagnosis initially startled her, but she tackled the subject with humor, leaning into the vulnerability of aging in public.
She also shared her experience learning she has arthritis. In one story, she remembered feeling a sharp sensation and assuming she had seriously injured herself. Instead, she was told the pain was a natural part of getting older. “I asked how I ended up with arthritis, and the doctor just said, ‘It happens at your age,’” she recalled, adding the line with her signature comedic timing.
Reflecting on her industry, DeGeneres acknowledged how hard it can be to discuss aging openly while maintaining celebrity expectations. “It’s hard to be real about getting older and still seem cool,” she noted, a comment that highlighted the scrutiny often placed on performers long after their careers peak.
More revelations followed—ones that extended beyond physical health and into years of emotional introspection.