Ellen accused of demanding an artist give her 6000 tarot card decks for free

A spokesperson for Ellen DeGeneres has refuted an artist’s claim that representatives for the former talk show host’s subscription box service asked him to provide 6,000 tarot decks for free.

On Monday, artist and author Adam J. Kurtz tweeted that DeGeneres had asked him for the tarot decks.

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“Today in embarrassing career lows,” he wrote. “Ell*n d*generes asked for 6,000 copies of my OK Tarot deck for some kind of subscription box she does… and she wanted them FOR FREE.”

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today in embarrassing career lows, ell*n d*generes asked for 6,000 copies of my OK Tarot deck for some kind of subscription box she does… and she wanted them FOR FREE. https://t.co/guJO94DHKP

— Adam JK (@adamjk) July 24, 2023

He also provided a link to Bookshop.com, where his OK Tarot deck retails for $22. The 78-card deck features original hand-drawn illustrations by Kurtz based on the classic Tarot deck along with a “sturdy lidded box,” 48-page introduction booklet, and two bonus stickers. According to the product description, the deck “avoids depictions of race, religion, or gender to help YOU focus your intention.”

Subscriptions to DeGeneres’s “Be Kind” boxes are available at her official online shop for $197.96 annually or $54.99 quarterly.

“This box is always full of items that are good for you and good for the world,” DeGeneres says in a video about the subscription service on her online shop.

The site notes that all products in the boxes, which ship four times a year, are “handpicked by Ellen.”

Kurtz’s tweet sparked outrage from folks at the idea of Ellen, who, as Jezebel notes, is worth an estimated $380 million, asking an independent artist for free products.

“Horrific,” commented out author Alexander Chee.

Kurtz later clarified that DeGeneres herself had not reached out to him personally.

“I just mean it’s staff acting on her behalf,” he tweeted. “She must know the business model relies on free product. but she probably doesn’t know who all is being asked. i imagine they get people to say yes first and then present options to her? who f**king knows.”

i just mean it’s staff acting on her behalf. she must know the business model relies on free product. but she probably doesn’t know who all is being asked. i imagine they get people to say yes first and then present options to her? who fucking knows.

— Adam JK (@adamjk) July 25, 2023

DeGeneres’s reputation as the “Queen of Nice” has taken a major hit in recent years. In 2020, stories of the comedian being mean began proliferating on Twitter, and staff on her syndicated daytime talk show spoke out about their treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Later that same year, former employees of The Ellen DeGeneres Show shared their experiences of the show’s toxic and often racist work environment.  

In response to Kurtz’s claim, a spokesperson for DeGeneres told Jezebel, “This is a lie and not true.”

After his initial tweet garnered attention, Kurtz tweeted that he’s doing just fine. “I have a cute house and a dog and i help support my family.” He included a link to his full range of products, adding that “I made all of these and if you want 6,000 we can get you a solid discount.”