Ellen DeGeneres Reveals Where She Stands With Anne Heche Today

Ellen DeGeneres has some kind words to say about her ex-girlfriend, actor Anne Heche, who was involved in a fiery car crash and is now in critical condition.

On August 5, Heche reportedly crashed her car into a home in Los Angeles, landing the actor being put in an intensive care unit. "At this time she is in extreme critical condition she has a significant pulmonary injury requiring mechanical ventilation and burns that require surgical intervention," a representative for the star told Us Weekly. "She is in a coma and has not regained consciousness since shortly after the accident." It didn't take long until she received an outpouring of support from her friends in the industry. "Hey, I just want to send out my best wishes and all my love to Anne Heche," Alec Baldwin said in an Instagram video. "There's not a lot of women I've worked with that are brave in the way that Anne is brave." Peter Facinelli, her co-star in "13 Minutes," shared a photo of the two of them on his Instagram Story, writing, "praying for you and your beautiful family," per NBC Los Angeles.

DeGeneres also wished Heche well during a brief interview.

It's been decades since Ellen DeGeneres and Anne Heche split, but it looks like the talk show host still looks out for her ex. However, she clarified that they have not communicated in years. "We're not in touch with each other, so I wouldn't know," she said when asked if she's had the opportunity to speak with Heche since the accident, per Entertainment Tonight.

But even though they're not in contact these days, DeGeneres still shared her well wishes. "I don't want anyone to be hurt," she said. "It was quite a dangerous accident that happened, wasn't it?" the cameraman asked, to which she responded, "Sure was."

DeGeneres and Heche dated from 1997 to 2000, and at the time, same-sex relationships were not accepted by many. Heche even revealed that she lost multi-million dollar projects because she was dating a woman. "I didn't do a studio picture for 10 years. I was fired from a $10 million picture deal and did not see the light of day in a studio picture," she told Page Six in 2021. But Heche has no regrets and looks back at that phase of her life quite fondly. "Our time was a beautiful part of my life and one that I wear with honor," she told Mr. Warburton in 2020. "I was a part of a revolution that created social change, and I could not have done that without falling in love with her."

It's clear now that Ellen DeGeneres no longer bears Anne Heche any ill will (if she ever did), but Heche's last interview seems to suggest that she and DeGeneres weren't on the best of terms. Heche revealed in a Q&A with Perez Hilton that she did try to reach out to her ex-girlfriend after the breakup. "You know what, every day of my life I reached out to her," Heche said. "I think that it was a very difficult thing for her to trust that I was a woman who could fall in love with a woman, without being gay." Heche also said of DeGeneres that "nothing would satisfy her soul."

After their split, DeGeneres went on to marry Portia DeRossi in 2008, according to CBS News, after they'd been dating for several years and gay marriage had officially become legal in the United States. Meanwhile Heche went on to marry Coleman Laffoon in 2001.

Ellen DeGeneres and Anne Heche may not have been in much contact since their relationship ended, but the comedian still showed her support for Heche and her family after it was reported that Heche had died of her injuries on August 12. Taking to Twitter, DeGeneres wrote, "This is a sad day. I'm sending Anne's children, family and friends all of my love." She also shared the same message in an Instagram Story to her 125 million followers. 

Deadline reported earlier Heche had been declared legally brain dead but remains on life support. In their statement, Heche's family said, "We have lost a bright light, a kind and most joyful soul, a loving mother, and a loyal friend." The statement continued, "Anne will be deeply missed but she lives on through her beautiful sons, her iconic body of work, and her passionate advocacy. Her bravery for always standing in her truth, spreading her message of love and acceptance, will continue to have a lasting impact."