Love can be a wild ride, and sometimes, it takes a hard fall. Anne Heche’s relationship with Ellen DeGeneres in the late ‘90s didn’t just make headlines for being one of Hollywood’s first openly gay couples; it also left Heche with a bitter reminder that love isn’t always the golden ticket.
In 1997, the two were everywhere: on red carpets, in magazines, and in the hearts of those cheering for love to break boundaries. But, as Heche earlier recounted, her love life became a double-edged sword. She was out there, taking a stand for love, but as she put it, Hollywood wasn’t exactly handing her any roses in return.
According to the late actress, after attending a movie premiere with DeGeneres, she was swiftly shown the door, losing a significant movie deal soon after.
Anne Heche Blamed Her Firing from Movie Deal on Her Romance with Ellen DeGeneres
Sometimes, the heart wants what it wants, even when the world isn’t ready for it. And in the case of Anne Heche and Ellen DeGeneres, their relationship in the late 90s wasn’t just about love—it was about making history.
From the moment Heche and DeGeneres met, the spark was undeniable. As DeGeneres put it in an interview (via Tampa Bay Times) it was “a chemistry thing that you can’t really describe”.
While their relationship may have been a whirlwind of love and activism, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. In fact, Heche revealed in a 2018 interview (via Irish Goodbye podcast) that attending the premiere of her movie Volcano with DeGeneres was a turning point.
I took Ellen, we were told that my contract for Fox would be [ended] and I would be fired. And that the movie that I had just met Harrison Ford on wouldn’t hire me.
Despite being advised not to bring DeGeneres to the event, Heche chose to walk the red carpet with her partner by her side, signaling to the world that their love wasn’t something to hide. The latter said:
And we went to the premiere — these are the stories that I know people don’t know — we went to the premiere, we were tapped on the shoulder, put into her limo in the third act and told that we couldn’t have pictures of us taken at the press junket.
Heche was told that her contract with Fox could be terminated and that future movie opportunities—like working with Harrison Ford—were off the table. Both Heche and DeGeneres faced backlash, with Heche claiming that they were even “fired” shortly after attending that premiere.
Anne Heche Reflected on Her Love for Ellen DeGeneres
Despite the trials they faced, Anne Heche looked back on their time together with fondness. Their three-year relationship was a pivotal moment in her life, one that she said helped her get “clear” about who she was.
The late actress said (via PEOPLE):
Every relationship in my life was leading to the moment where I went to Fresno. I made some really outrageous choices to find love, and I’m so grateful for it. Without Ellen, I never would have been as clear as I am now.
In a 2020 interview with Mr. Warburton magazine (via Variety), Heche reflected:
Our time was a beautiful part of my life and one that I wear with honor. I was a part of a revolution that created social change, and I could not have done that without falling in love with her.
On the other hand, DeGeneres was always more private about their relationship. But when Heche tragically passed away in 2022, The Ellen DeGeneres Show host, 66, broke her silence with a tweet expressing her sadness:
It was a tender moment in a relationship that had once sparked so much heat in the public eye. Sadly, on August 5, 2022, Heche was critically injured in a high-speed car crash (via LA Times). She passed away at a Los Angeles hospital on August 11, 2022, at the age of 53.
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