Ryan Phillippe appears to take jab at Ellen DeGeneres following toxic workplace allegations

Actor referenced DeGeneres’s ‘be kind’ tagline

Ryan Phillippe has taken an apparent jab at Ellen DeGeneres following allegations painting her TV show as a toxic workplace.

The actor recently shared a photo of himself on his Instagram Story, posing in front of an advertisement for The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

As a caption, he wrote: “And remember to be kind… wait.”

“Be kind” was DeGeneres’s tagline for a long time. She referenced it in September when returning to her TV show, telling viewers: “Being known as the ‘be kind’ lady is a tricky position to be in.

“…The truth is, I am that person that you see on TV. I am also a lot of other things. Sometimes I get sad. I get mad, I get anxious, I get frustrated, I get impatient – and I am working on all of that. I am a work in progress.”

In the same monologue, DeGeneres apologised to those affected and said she takes responsibility for what happens at the programme.

The last time Phillippe appeared on DeGeneres’s show was in 2011. His ex-wife, actor Reese Witherspoon, has been a frequent guest on the programme, most recently in March this year.

The Ellen DeGeneres Show is currently in its 18th season. Guests have included Tiffany Haddish, Chasten Buttigieg, and Michael Che.

The Independent has contacted Phillippe’s representative for comment.