Ellen DeGeneres has admitted "things happened here that never should have" as she addressed the reports of a toxic work environment during her opening monologue of her talk show.
In the seven-minute opener, DeGeneres apologised "to the people that were affected" and said she is "taking responsibility for what happens at my show."
Addressing a virtual audience, in her first monologue of the new series, she said: "If you're watching because you love me, thank you. If you're watching because you don't love me, welcome."
After joking she had had a "great, super terrific" summer, she added: "I learned that things happened here that never should have happened. I take that very seriously and I want to say I am so sorry to the people that were affected.
"I know that I'm in a position of privilege and power, and I realise that with that comes responsibility. I take responsibility for what happens at my show," she said.
"We have had a lot of conversations over the last few weeks about the show, our workplace and what we want for the future, we have made the necessary changes and today we are starting a new chapter."
Addressing reports that she is not who she appears to be on TV, she said: "I am that person that you see on TV. I am also a lot of other things," and recalled she started saying "be kind to one another" at the end of each show after the suicide of a young man named Tyler Clementi.
She added: "Being known as the 'be kind lady' is a tricky position to be in," and described herself as a "work in progress".
DeGeneres previously apologised to staff and said she was "committed to ensuring this does not happen again".
