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The talk show host struggled to hold back tears when receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama. DeGeneres was accompanied by her wife, Portia de Rossi, in spite of recent rumours that the couple was divorcing after eight years of marriage.<\/p>\n
During the ceremony, DeGeneres was introduced by both President Obama and The White House aide: “At a pivotal moment, her courage and candor helped change the hearts and minds of millions of Americans, accelerating our nation’s constant drive toward equality and acceptance for all. Ellen DeGeneres has showed us that a single individual can make the world a more fun, more open, more loving place, so long as we just keep swimming.”<\/p>\n
President Obama acknowledged the bravery of DeGeneres who came out as gay 20 years ago. \u201cWhat an incredible burden that was to bear, to risk her career like that\u201d, he said. \u201cPeople don\u2019t do that very often, and then to have the hopes of millions on your shoulders.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ellen DeGeneres has had a close relationship with both President Obama and The First Lady as they were guests on her show on multiple occasions, not hesitating to dance away as per the show\u2019s usual.<\/p>\n
In 2007, yet to be the President of the United States:<\/p>\n