Ellen DeGeneres Sued Over 2023 Stop-Sign Crash

17 September 2025

Ellen DeGeneres has been accused of causing a 2023 car crash, according to a new complaint obtained by Fox News Digital. AP

A lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County claims Ellen DeGeneres caused a serious car crash in Santa Barbara County after allegedly running a stop sign and “T-boning” another driver’s vehicle. The crash is said to have happened October 16, 2023, at an intersection controlled by stop signs on all sides. According to court documents, the plaintiff asserts she stopped properly at her sign and checked for traffic before proceeding. She alleges that DeGeneres entered the intersection without stopping and struck her car without warning.

The woman bringing the suit says she suffered “multiple serious personal injuries” from the impact. She is seeking damages for medical and hospital expenses, lost wages, and other impacts of the crash including emotional distress, anxiety, and loss of enjoyment of life. The complaint describes DeGeneres’s conduct as negligent failing to meet the behavior standard expected from a reasonable driver.

Ellen DeGeneres is 67 years old. She has not publicly responded to these specific allegations. Her representatives have also remained silent so far.

This legal battle comes amid renewed scrutiny of DeGeneres’s public image. She has faced criticism in recent years over past allegations about the workplace environment on her former talk show. Those controversies resurfaced online, but this lawsuit addresses a different kind of public concern one grounded in personal injury and negligence.

The lawsuit will likely require a detailed examination of the intersection, traffic signage, witness testimony, and any available surveillance or dash cam footage. Key questions will include whether DeGeneres had the opportunity to stop, what she saw or could have seen before entering the intersection, and the timing of the collision.

For the plaintiff this case is about accountability. If proven, negligence can carry serious consequences not only in terms of financial compensation but in setting professional and legal precedent. For DeGeneres, this means contesting whether she acted reasonably, whether the accident was avoidable, and how much the alleged injuries affect the other party’s life.

As the legal process begins, there’s also the public reaction dimension. Fans and critics alike are watching how this will unfold. Some will see this as another test of public accountability for celebrities. Others will await evidence before drawing conclusions.