Barack Obama has honoured Ellen DeGeneres and 21 others with a very special honour – the Medal Of Freedom.
The current President Of The United States will step down from his position in the White House in January next year with Donald Trump set to take over.
The American honoured the actress’ bravery for risking her career by coming out as gay almost 20 years ago.
Coming out: Ellen revealed she was gay on the Oprah Winfrey Show in 1997 | ABC
In 1997, Ellen came out as gay to Oprah Winfrey on her chat show and later on her own TV show, her character came out as gay to her therapist, played by Oprah.
“What an incredible burden that was to bear, to risk her career like that,” Barack said at the ceremony in the White House, reported by the Irish Times.
“People don’t do that very often, and then to have the hopes of millions on your shoulders.”
Honoured: Bruce also was given a Medal Of Freedom by Barack at the special ceremony | VIPIRELAND.COM
Ellen wasn’t the only celebrity given such a high honour at the ceremony as Robert DeNiro, Tom Hanks, Bruce Springsteen and Diana Ross were among the 22 people awarded the Medal Of Freedom.
“Everybody on this stage has touched me in a very powerful, personal way, in ways that they probably couldn’t imagine,” Barack concluded after the hour-long ceremony.
The President has also received a great honour as Netflix have created a biopic on his early life – and it’s emotional.
