‘It was the greatest thing that happened’: Ellen DeGeneres recalls controversial decision to come out… as executives warned it would ‘destroy’ her

It’s been 20 years since Ellen DeGeneres announced she was gay on national television.

The daytime talk show host, 59, is now recounting that tough decision to TIME magazine, saying years later that it ended up being ‘the greatest thing that happened’ to her.

The hugely successful host talked about the episode where she announced that her character on the hit ABC sitcom Ellen was gay, making her the first gay character on prime-time television.