Ellen DeGeneres paid a visit to the White House to receive an honor from President Barack Obama but was not allowed to go inside because she forgot her ID.
The 58-year-old comedienne tweeted a photo of herself, where she is outside the White House premises sitting on a wooden bench after she was denied entry. "They haven't let me in to the White House yet because I forgot my ID. #NotJoking #PresidentialMedalOfFreedom," she wrote to her millions of followers on Twitter.
They haven't let me in to the White House yet because I forgot my ID. #NotJoking#PresidentialMedalOfFreedom pic.twitter.com/sHocwqChKV
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) November 22, 2016
However, DeGeneres was eventually allowed inside so she could get the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Before that, she and a couple of White House staffers took part in the Mannequin challenge that has taken over the world by storm. Other recipients of the medal namely Tom Hanks, Diana Ross, Robert De Niro and Michael Jordan also participated in the challenge.
I'm in. pic.twitter.com/oU344pnYsH — Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) November 22, 2016
Once the formal festivities began, one-by-one the recipients were given their respective medals. DeGeneres became emotional as Obama delivered his speech for her before he gave her medal. He commended the "Finding Dory" star's courage for coming out 20 years ago, as well as how she risked her career and bear the burden of scrutiny at the time.
"She did, for a pretty long stretch of time-even in Hollywood. And yet, today, every day, in every way, Ellen counters what too often divides us with the countless things that bind us together-inspires us to be better, one joke, one dance at a time," he said, according to Just Jared.
Recognized as the highest civilian honor in the United States, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is an honor given to individuals who have made noteworthy contributions to the country. Besides DeGeneres, Hanks, Ross, De Niro and Jordan, other recipients of the award also include "Saturday Night Live" creator Lorne Michaels, Robert Redford and Bruce Springsteen, according to Entertainment Tonight Online.
Watch a video of DeGeneres receiving her medal from President Obama below:
