Anne Heche claims dating Ellen DeGeneres got her fired from a 'multimillion dollar picture deal'
Actress Anne Heche opened up about her past relationship with Ellen DeGeneres on 'Dancing With the Stars' Tuesday night. Heche revealed to her partner Keo Motsepe during rehearsals, "My story is a story that created change in the world, moved the needle for equal rights forward, when I fell in love with Ellen DeGeneres. In 1997, I met Ellen DeGeneres at the Vanity Fair party and that was the night that changed my life forever." "My movie premiere 'Volcano,' I told them that I was taking Ellen as my date. I was told if I took Ellen, I would lose my Fox contract. At that moment she took my hand and said, ‘Do what they say.’ And I said, No thanks,'" explained Heche. "I told them that I was taking Ellen as my date. I was told if I took Ellen, I would lose my Fox contract. At that moment she took my hand and said, ‘Do what they say,’ and I said, 'No thanks.'" Heche explained that, despite being warned, she took Degeneres to her premiere. "I was ushered out by security before the movie even ended and told I was not allowed to go to my own afterparty for fear that they would get pictures of me with a woman," revealed Heche. "It was unbelievable. I had no idea. Part of my naiveté was that I had no idea. She was warning me, this is gonna happen," Heche explained. However, the actress had no idea how much it would really cost her. "I was in a relationship with Ellen DeGeneres for three and a half years, and the stigma attached to that relationship was so bad that I was fired from my multimillion dollar picture deal, and I did not work in a studio picture for ten years," claimed Heche. Following her performance Monday night, Heche admitted that she felt "redeemed." "It has been a blessing to be on this show, and to be able to tell my story, and to be able to have a partner to tell the truth with, and to learn with, and survive with," stated the 'DWTS' contestant.
Video Transcript
[MUSIC PLAYING]
ANNE HECHE: My story is a story that created change in the world. [INAUDIBLE] moved the needle for equal rights forward when I fell in love with Ellen DeGeneres.
In 1997, I met Ellen DeGeneres at the 'Vanity Fair' party. And that was the night that changed my life forever.
KYLIE MAR (NARRATING): On 'Dancing With the Stars' Monday night, actress Anne Heche opened up about her past relationship with Ellen DeGeneres.
ANNE HECHE: My movie premiere, 'Volcano,' and I had told them that I was taking Ellen is my date. And I was told if I took Ellen, I would lose my Fox contract.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC NOTE PLAYS]
At that moment, she took my hand and said, "Do what they say." And I say, "No, thanks."
KYLIE MAR (NARRATING): Anne explained that despite being warned, she took Ellen to her premiere.
ANNE HECHE: I was ushered out by security before the movie even ended and told I was not allowed to go to my own after party-- for fear that they would get pictures of me with a woman.
KYLIE MAR (NARRATING): Anne shared that the response she got over her relationship with Ellen was unbelievable. But at the time she was naive and had no idea how much it would really cost her.
ANNE HECHE: I was in a relationship with Ellen DeGeneres for three-and-a-half years. And the stigma attached to that relationship was so bad that I was fired from my multimillion-dollar picture deal and I did not work in a studio picture for 10 years.
KYLIE MAR (NARRATING): And following Anne and her partner Keo's performance Monday night, Keo took to Twitter sharing how inspired and proud he was of Anne for sharing her story.
ANNE HECHE: It has been a blessing to be on this show and to be able to tell my story and to be able to have a partner to tell the truth with and to learn with--
[? - ?] Yeah.
ANNE HECHE: And survive with.
[? - ?] Yeah.
[MUSIC PLAYING]