Anne Heche reflected on her past romance with Ellen DeGeneres and how hard it was for them due to the public's perception about their relationship. The late actress who passed away on Aug. 12, shared how the stigma against same-sex relationships caused her to lose a multi-million movie deal.
Anne Heche Reflected On Ellen DeGeneres' Romance
The Emmy-winner actress, who passed away a week after a car crash in Los Angeles, Friday, talked about her relationship with Ellen DeGeneres in 2020. According to her in an episode of Dancing with the Stars, her relationship with the former TV talk show host was life-changing.
"In 1997, I met Ellen DeGeneres at the Vanity Fair party and that was the night that changed my life forever," she said on the clip courtesy of ABC, People reported.
"My movie premiere for Volcano, I had told them that I was taking Ellen as my date and I was told if I took Ellen I would lose my Fox contract," she continued. "At that moment, she took my hand and said, 'Do what they say' and I said, 'No thanks.' I took Ellen to the premiere and I was ushered out before the movie even ended and was told I was not allowed to go to my own after party for fear that they would get pictures of me with a woman."
Heche told her dancing partner Keo Motsepe that DeGeneres had warned her about it. Aside from not allowing her to attend her afterparty, she lost a huge deal.
"I was in a relationship with Ellen DeGeneres for three-and-a-half years and the stigma attached to that relationship was so bad that I was fired from my multi-million dollar picture deal and I did not work in a studio picture for 10 years," she added.
DeGeneres and Heche dated from 1997 to 2000.
What Did Anne Heche Say About Her Relationship With Ellen DeGeneres
In August, Anne Heche further discussed her previous relationship with Ellen DeGeneres in her cover interview with Mr. Warburton magazine. For her, when he dated DeGeneres she was part of a "revolution" and she was "proud" to help move equality forward.
"Our time was a beautiful part of my life and one that I wear with honor," she said. "I was a part of a revolution that created social change, and I could not have done that without falling in love with her."
Despite that, she acknowledged that there was still work to do. Nevertheless, she was satisfied that she was being true to herself.
"I’ve paved this way for myself, and my honesty had every single thing to do with it," she continued. "I think every interaction we have should begin with whether or not we can look at and talk to other human beings with 100 percent respect. My answer will always be ‘yes.’ We have to agree that it’s a possibility and that we all deserve it."
How Did Ellen DeGeneres Respond To Anne Heche's Accident, Death
A photographer caught up with Ellen DeGeneres days before Heche passed away. At the time, she was already in a coma as she had not gained consciousness following the accident.
"We're not in touch with each other, so I wouldn't know," DeGeneres told the photographer as quoted by Entertainment Tonight. "I don't want anyone to be hurt."
The man behind the camera chimed in, "It was quite a dangerous accident that happened, wasn't it?" DeGeneres agreed, saying, "It was."
A few days following the interview, Heche's family announced that she had passed away. DeGeneres released a statement on Twitter to let Heche's family know she's with them as they grieved her passing.
"This is a sad day. I'm sending Anne's children, family and friends all of my love," DeGeneres tweeted.
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