Former talk show host Ellen DeGeneres faces legal action after being accused of causing a 2023 car crash in Santa Barbara County. A lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County court alleges that DeGeneres engaged in “negligent conduct” when she “t-boned” a woman’s vehicle at a four-way stop intersection.
The plaintiff claims she was driving a Tesla northbound on Evans Avenue near Ortega Hill Road on October 16, 2023, and came to a complete stop at the intersection. According to the complaint, she confirmed no other vehicles were present before proceeding straight through the intersection. The filing states that her vehicle was “suddenly and without any warning” struck from the right by DeGeneres’ car, resulting in “serious personal injuries.”
DeGeneres, who has since relocated to the UK, previously stated she chose to settle there after Donald Trump’s re-election as U.S. president. The comedian told a crowd in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, that life “is just better” in England and expressed concerns about America’s “scary” environment for LGBTQ+ individuals. She also addressed allegations of a toxic workplace culture but dismissed them as “clickbait.”
The lawsuit remains under review, with no further details disclosed at this time.