Ellen DeGeneres marked her 68th birthday quietly and thoughtfully this week, choosing reflection as global and national events weighed heavily on the moment.
On Monday, the former daytime talk show host shared a candid Instagram selfie with her wife, Portia de Rossi, acknowledging the emotional complexity of celebrating another year. The photo was simple and intimate, showing DeGeneres in a green sweater with her arm wrapped around de Rossi, 52.
“It’s a tough day to feel like celebrating a birthday,” DeGeneres wrote. “I’m holding space for what’s happening in our world and holding close what I’m grateful for. Like my wife. And cookies.”
The post struck a chord, earning warm wishes from friends and fans alike. Podcaster Jay Shetty commented, “Happy Birthday. You deserve to be celebrated,” while HGTV designer Nate Berkus added a string of red heart emojis in the comments.
The subdued tone of DeGeneres’ birthday message comes amid a rare period of public political commentary from the famously private comedian. In recent weeks, she has used her platform to spotlight deadly incidents involving federal officers in Minneapolis.
Just days before her birthday, on Saturday, January 24, DeGeneres shared a video honoring ICU nurse Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed by federal officers. Earlier this month, on January 18, DeGeneres also posted a lengthy video addressing the fatal shooting of Renée Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three who was shot by an ICE agent, Jonathan Ross, on January 7.
Speaking directly to the camera, DeGeneres expressed sorrow and solidarity with those affected. “So my thoughts and my prayers are going out to everyone, and I'm proud of everyone who's protesting peacefully, and I am sorry for anyone who has been hurt just for protesting, for doing what you should be doing,” she said.
In the same message, DeGeneres explained her personal connection to the city, noting that Minneapolis is where she filmed her final stand-up special. She said she chose it because it was often described as “the happiest city in America.” “I’m so sorry for what is happening in Minneapolis and our country,” she added.
The birthday milestone also arrives during a transitional chapter in DeGeneres’ personal life. She and de Rossi, who will turn 53 on January 31, have spent recent years dividing time between the U.S. and the U.K. The couple purchased a historic farmhouse in England’s Cotswolds in June 2024 and relocated there following the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
Despite the upheaval, their partnership remains constant. Last year, DeGeneres celebrated de Rossi’s birthday by calling her “my brilliant beautiful hilarious adventurous wife,” a sentiment she shared again in this year’s understated birthday post.