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Some 'American Idol' contestants 'ungrateful' - Ellen DeGeneres interview

By April MacIntyre Oct 28, 2011, 17:18 GMT

10/04/2011 - Ellen Degeneres - "Extra" Interview with Ellen DeGeneres at The Grove in Los Angeles on October 4, 2011 - The Grove - Los Angeles, CA, USA © Glenn Francis / PR Photos

Ellen DeGeneres let her hair down and revealed her pain at coming out as a lesbian.

This Sunday’s issue of PARADE features a very revealing cover story Ellen DeGeneres, where she opens up about Hollywood's reaction when she came out as a lesbian, life with Portia, her decision to leave American Idol, and more.

She tells PARADE that coming out as a lesbian was more of a shock to herself, and that her family approved, while Hollywood did not. She also talks about behind-the-scene “nastiness” at American Idol.
 
On dealing with rejection in Hollywood after she came out as a lesbian in 1997:

Ellen: "I didn't work, didn't have any money. No one [in the business] would even talk to me on the phone." With the outline of her talk show in hand, she finally convinced Hollywood that she was "not just gay," she says, but "a funny woman who happens to be gay."
 
DeGeneres says her own family was more understanding when she came out at age 18:

Ellen: "If anything, it was a shock to me. I'd always known that I had crushes on girls, but I also liked boys-though I wasn't drawn to them romantically. For me to get in touch with myself enough to recognize that I was gay, and then not to stay private about it, was a huge step."

DeGeneres found the behind-the-scenes nastiness of American Idol off-putting:

Ellen "It was disappointing to hear things about the kids, the drama going on. Some of them are not as grateful as you would expect. All of a sudden they have fan mail, millions of people saying they're great, and some of them just stop appreciating it."
   
Look for the full story in the Oct. 30 issue of Parade and to check out Ellen at her photo shoot and read an excerpt from her new book, visit: