Ankle Monitor Speculations: Ellen's Fashion Choice Explained

In 2020, conspiracy theories spread on social media that celebrities such as Ellen DeGeneres were wearing ankle monitors due to their involvement in child sex trafficking. These claims were linked to the QAnon conspiracy theory. However, these claims are false and have been debunked by sources such as Reuters and USA Today.

The QAnon conspiracy theory

The core belief of QAnon followers is that the world is controlled by a secret cabal of Satan-worshipping child molesters, and that Trump is secretly battling to stop them. Q, the anonymous figure at the centre of the movement, reveals details about this battle online. Q's posts are known as "crumbs" or "breadcrumbs", and followers of the theory analyse these posts, weaving them into a broader narrative.

QAnon has direct roots in the Pizzagate conspiracy theory, which emerged a year earlier. Pizzagate claimed that high-profile Democrats were sexually abusing children at a Washington D.C. pizzeria. This theory led to an armed attack on the restaurant by a gunman who believed the theory. QAnon builds on this theory, claiming that children are being abducted and trafficked by a cabal of elites, and that Trump is the only person fighting this criminal network.

QAnon has been linked to several violent incidents, including the 2021 attack on the US Capitol. QAnon adherents were among the hundreds of rioters who were arrested after battling police and storming the Capitol building. The most recognisable QAnon follower at the Capitol was Jacob Chansley, known as the "QAnon Shaman". Chansley was sentenced to 41 months in prison for his role in the attack.

While QAnon has largely disappeared from the news cycle, its adherents and their beliefs have not gone away. The theories have been diluted and normalised, and fears of threats to children and pedophilia have been integrated into the political system. QAnon has been described as a "conspiracy theory-wing" of the Republican Party, with many elected GOP leaders embracing or refusing to condemn the theory.

Claims of celebrities wearing ankle monitors

In 2020, social media users shared images online that allegedly showed talk show hosts Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres wearing ankle monitors, claiming that they were under house arrest. These claims were found to be false and were linked to the QAnon conspiracy theory that powerful celebrities are involved in a child sex trafficking ring. The images of DeGeneres and Winfrey were taken from video clips and did not clearly show any ankle monitors. More recent videos of both women showed their bare ankles with no monitors. Additionally, any arrests of such high-profile individuals would have been widely reported by the media.

In a separate but similar incident, Anna Delvey, the former fake heiress whose legal name is Anna Sorokin, made headlines when she appeared on "Dancing With the Stars" while wearing a bedazzled ankle monitor. Sorokin had served time in prison for stealing from multiple businesses and was subsequently arrested by US immigration authorities for overstaying her visa. As a result, she was placed on house arrest, which required her to wear an ankle monitor.

These instances of claimed or confirmed ankle monitor usage by celebrities have attracted significant attention, with some even inspiring conspiracy theories. However, it is important to verify such claims through reliable sources and official channels to separate fact from fiction.

The Ellen Show clip

In a clip from The Ellen Show, Ellen DeGeneres makes a video call to actress Courtney Cox. A screenshot from this clip has been circulated online, with claims that it shows DeGeneres wearing an ankle monitor, and that she is under house arrest for child sex trafficking. These claims are false. While DeGeneres's sweatpants do appear ruffled in the screenshot, there is no ankle monitor visible. Furthermore, there is no evidence of DeGeneres being under house arrest, and any such arrest would have been widely reported by news organisations.

Recent videos of DeGeneres

DeGeneres has been in the news recently for her Netflix comedy special, 'For Your Approval', in which she discusses allegations of a toxic workplace environment on the set of 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show'. She has also revealed that she has been diagnosed with OCD, ADHD, and osteoporosis. In the special, DeGeneres also announced that she is \"done\" with Hollywood and that this would be the last time people would see her.

DeGeneres has also been in the news for reflecting on her final trips with Stephen "tWitch" Boss on the anniversary of his death. She has also made headlines for accurately predicting the name of Paris Hilton's son a year before he was born.

Oprah's cooking video

In 2020, a fact-check article by Reuters debunked a claim circulating online that Oprah Winfrey was wearing an ankle monitor and under house arrest. The claim was linked to the QAnon conspiracy theory that powerful celebrities are part of a child sex trafficking ring. The photograph of Oprah used in the claim was taken from a cooking video, in which she prepares spaghetti carbonara. Throughout the video, there is no clear visual of an ankle monitor, and Oprah's ankles are visible without any monitor in another recent live video.

Now, let's take a closer look at Oprah's cooking video, which was referenced in the fact-check article. While the exact video in question doesn't appear to be readily available, we do know a few things about it. It features Oprah cooking spaghetti carbonara, and at no point in the video is she seen wearing an ankle monitor. This video was likely shared or referenced online to dispel the false rumours about Oprah being under house arrest.

Oprah has had a well-documented relationship with food and cooking, which has been showcased in various videos and through her association with chefs. For instance, in 2013, Oprah's former chef, Rosie Daley, was featured in a video on Oprah's website. Rosie gained fame after Oprah ate a meal she prepared at a spa in the early 1990s. Rosie became a regular on *The Oprah Show*, sharing her popular recipes like unfried French fries and healthy corn chowder. She also published a cookbook, *In the Kitchen with Rosie: Oprah's Favorite Recipes*, which sold 6 million copies.

In addition to featuring chefs on her show, Oprah has also shared her own cooking experiences in videos. In one video, she cooks dinner while camping, ditching her camping cookbook to create her own campsite meal. This video showcases Oprah's creativity and resourcefulness in the kitchen, even in an outdoor setting.

Another video, posted on Instagram in 2020, shows Oprah cooking miso salmon and pesto pasta while singing and dancing to Harry Belafonte's "Banana Boat Song (Day-O)." This video offers a glimpse into Oprah's quarantine meals and her attempt to find joy in the routine of cooking, just like many of us during that time.

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