Ellen DeGeneres has responded to a conservative pastor's claims that she "celebrates her lesbianism" and is using celebrities like Taylor Swift to "attract young girls."
Although the talk show queen said she didn't typically pay attention to tabloid or media reports, she sounded off on the news in an installment of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."
"The only way I'm trying to influence people is to be more kind and compassionate with one another," she said. "I don't have an agenda."
She went on to note, "Attention youth of the world: I want you to live your lives being exactly who you are. Be true to yourself."
Evangelist Larry Tomczak made the eyebrow-raising claims in a Christian Post Op-Ed titled, "Are You Aware of the Avalanche of Gay Programming Assaulting Your Home?"
Published on Jan. 8, Tomczak's piece slams the various forms of "indoctrination and propaganda" which is being created by Hollywood and the media to advocate the "gay lifestyle in our country."
In addition to his claims regarding DeGeneres's booking of Swift, Tomczak had harsh words for "Modern Family," "Glee" and the film "Foxcatcher," which some believe had a gay subtext.
As far as out media personalities are concerned, Tomczak also took aim at Anderson Cooper for "[boasting] openly on TV he'd rather 'have sex' with a man."
Before You Go
