Ellen DeGeneres Faces Backlash Over Oxfordshire Home Labelled ‘Brutalist Monstrosity’

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Ellen DeGeneres is once again at the centre of controversy, this time not for her on-screen persona, but for her choice of residence in the English countryside. The American comedian and her wife, Australian actress Portia de Rossi, have drawn criticism over their newly built Oxfordshire mansion, described by critics as an architectural misstep that clashes with the rural charm of its surroundings.

The couple’s decision to move into the sleek, glass-heavy home comes after they listed their previous £15 million farmhouse in the Cotswolds, a region popular with celebrities seeking idyllic retreats. Built by a British developer, the new single-storey structure was intended to “redefine rural modern living”. Instead, it has sparked mockery online and been likened to a concrete bunker, a water plant, and even the lair of a James Bond villain.

Businessman and utilities expert Steve Loftus took to X (formerly Twitter) to brand the house a “concrete and glass monstrosity,” a sentiment echoed by several social media users. Some commenters went further, calling the design a “genuine hate crime,” while others questioned the taste of its interiors, calling them cold and devoid of character. One particularly biting remark described the interior as resembling a prison, adding, “It says a lot about her personality, or lack thereof.”

This is not the couple’s first clash with rural Britain. Earlier this year, they found themselves at odds with neighbours over proposed extensions to the property. Despite the pushback, DeGeneres appears to have embraced British life. In an interview with UK broadcaster Richard Bacon, she revealed that the pair originally planned only a short stay after arriving the day before the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Following Donald Trump’s second victory, however, they decided to remain in the UK permanently.

DeGeneres praised the country’s “simpler way of life,” expressing admiration for British politeness, architecture, and animal welfare. “It’s clean… Everything here is just better,” she told Baco. Their Oxfordshire estate, complete with horses, chickens, and dogs, has seemingly offered a quieter life, though not one free from public judgement.

The criticism of their property taps into a broader debate about the impact of high-profile relocations and modernist architecture in traditionally conservative rural areas. While some may celebrate innovation, others see these kinds of developments as tone-deaf or disruptive to local heritage. For now, DeGeneres’ rural retreat may provide her with the peace she claims to seek, but not without a fair share of scrutiny from the country she now calls home.