She is very very popular. By and large she stays away from politics. You are living in an alternative universe if you don’t believe that. She’s funny and she’s pleasant.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/12/ellen-degeneres-jcpenney-gay-day-flashmob_n_1269588.html
http://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/10/even-more-store-closures-could-be-ahead-for-jc-penney.html