Laura Dern reflects on what she calls one of the most significant moments of her career, speaking about her experience supporting Ellen DeGeneres during a groundbreaking chapter in television history.
Speaking of Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers Bodybuilders podcast, Dern reflected on the cultural weight of his appearance in the two-part episode of the 1997 sitcom Helene in which DeGeneres’ character was revealed to have a sexual orientation, marking the first time a main character had done so on television.
On representation, Dern said real change often only happens when someone is willing to act first, even before society is ready.
She explained that culture eventually catches up with storytelling, but only because someone takes that first step.
Nearly 30 years later, Dern said she continues to meet people who tell her the episode helped them understand themselves or find the courage to come out.
At the same time, she was honest about the personal cost of being part of this moment.
“I had the honor and privilege of being a part of Ellen DeGeneres’ coming out episode titled The puppy episodeand it was a huge moment,” Dern said.
She noted that looking back, people often think it was immediately celebrated, but the reality was much more complicated and painful.
When the episode aired in April 1997, Dern said it was expected to lead to empathy and acceptance. She recalled the assumption that the public would open their hearts, welcome their loved ones and allow culture to evolve naturally.
Instead, the reaction was intense and hostile.
This backlash affected everyone involved, including DeGeneres and other guest stars.
Dern revealed that those connected to the episode faced years of heightened security, as well as bomb threats and the loss of sponsors and advertisers during what she described as a chaotic period.
“The world said, ‘No, no, no,'” she said, adding that DeGeneres ultimately lost her show and it took years for things to change.
Despite this, Dern believes the long-term impact proves why it’s important to take risks in storytelling.
She highlighted her strong queer fan base, recalling being honored at the 2020 Independent Spirit Awards when it celebrated her as an icon.
She said moments like this show how far the culture has evolved.
Dern remembers holding DeGeneres’ hand as she said the words out loud for the first time on screen, calling it “one of the most incredible experiences of my life.”
Although Dern said she never hesitated to participate in the episode, she acknowledged that she and DeGeneres were impacted professionally afterward.
Still, she said there was “no greater gift” than being there in that moment, supporting DeGeneres through an emotional and historic scene that would shape television and representation for generations.
Most recently, DeGeneres marked personal milestones with her wife, Portia de Rossi.
The couple, who married in 2008 and renewed their vows in 2023, regularly pay tribute to each other online.
DeGeneres described her wife as “the greatest gift,” a reflection of the life she built years after the pivotal episode first aired.
For Dern, this experience remains a powerful reminder of the importance of representation, even if the cost seems overwhelming in the moment.
She believes that culture is shaped precisely by those who have the courage to move forward before the rest of the world is ready.
