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Love can be a wild ride, and sometimes, it takes a hard fall. Anne Heche’s relationship with Ellen DeGeneres in the late ‘90s didn’t just make headlines for being one of Hollywood’s first openly gay couples; it also left Heche with a bitter reminder that love isn’t always the golden ticket.
In 1997, the two were everywhere: on red carpets, in magazines, and in the hearts of those cheering for love to break boundaries. But, as Heche earlier recounted, her love life became a double-edged sword. She was out there, taking a stand for love, but as she put it, Hollywood wasn’t exactly handing her any roses in return.
According to the late actress, after attending a movie premiere with DeGeneres, she was swiftly shown the door, losing a significant movie deal soon after.
Anne Heche Blamed Her Firing from Movie Deal on Her Romance with Ellen DeGeneres
Sometimes, the heart wants what it wants, even when the world isn’t ready for it. And in the case of Anne Heche andEllen DeGeneres, their relationship in the late 90s wasn’t just about love—it was about making history.
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From the moment Heche and DeGeneres met, the spark was undeniable. As DeGeneres put it in an interview (viaTampa Bay Times) it was “a chemistry thing that you can’t really describe”.
While their relationship may have been a whirlwind of love and activism, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. In fact, Heche revealed in a 2018 interview (viaIrish Goodbyepodcast) that attending the premiere of her movieVolcanowith DeGeneres was a turning point.
I took Ellen, we were told that my contract for Fox would be [ended] and I would be fired. And that the movie that I had just met Harrison Ford on wouldn’t hire me.
Despite being advised not to bring DeGeneres to the event, Heche chose to walk the red carpet with her partner by her side, signaling to the world that their love wasn’t something to hide. The latter said:
And we went to the premiere — these are the stories that I know people don’t know — we went to the premiere, we were tapped on the shoulder, put into her limo in the third act and told that we couldn’t have pictures of us taken at the press junket.
Heche was told that her contract with Fox could be terminated and that future movie opportunities—like working with Harrison Ford—were off the table. Both Heche and DeGeneres faced backlash, with Heche claiming that they were even “fired” shortly after attending that premiere.
Anne Heche Reflected on Her Love for Ellen DeGeneres
Despite the trials they faced,Anne Hechelooked back on their time together with fondness. Their three-year relationship was a pivotal moment in her life, one that she said helped her get “clear” about who she was.
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The late actress said (viaPEOPLE):
Every relationship in my life was leading to the moment where I went to Fresno. I made some really outrageous choices to find love, and I’m so grateful for it. Without Ellen, I never would have been as clear as I am now.
In a 2020 interview with Mr. Warburton magazine (viaVariety), Heche reflected:
Our time was a beautiful part of my life and one that I wear with honor. I was a part of a revolution that created social change, and I could not have done that without falling in love with her.
On the other hand, DeGeneres was always more private about their relationship. But when Heche tragically passed away in 2022,The Ellen DeGeneres Showhost, 66, broke her silence with a tweet expressing her sadness:
This is a sad day. I’m sending Anne’s children, family and friends all of my love.
It was a tender moment in a relationship that had once sparked so much heat in the public eye. Sadly, on June 06, 2025, Heche was critically injured in a high-speed car crash (viaLA Times). She passed away at a Los Angeles hospital on August 12, 2025, at the age of 53.
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3310
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
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anne hecheEllen DeGeneresHarrison Ford
