A source told Globe: “Ellen is used to being a beloved TV icon, and feels she’s getting too old to be the object of bullying.
“That’s why she hasn’t started to negotiate additional seasons of her talk show, which is signed only until next year."
The backlash all started when Ellen invited Kevin Hart on to her talk show after old homophobic tweets of the comedians resurfaced prior to his Oscars hosting gig.
On her show, Ellen told Hart: “You have grown, you have apologized, you are apologizing again right now. You’ve done it. Don’t let those people win — host the Oscars.”
Although Ellen has been in the industry for a long time, the constant stream of online trolls criticising her for supporting Hart have taken their toll on the TV veteran.
A source told the publication: “She desperately needs acceptance from her peers and fans, and when even one person says something negative on social media, Ellen gets depressed.
“Some may think it’s strange the way she has to be liked all the time, but most comedians aren’t happy-go-lucky in their private lives. Everyone on the business side at least is worried she’ll quit.”