Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi Didn't Cancel Appearance Over a Fight, Pet Store Owner Apologizes

Celeb couple says they did not cancel appearance

UPDATE: Lizzie Scherer, the owner of Saving Spot!, issued an apology and retraction, saying in a statement, "Ellen and Portia have been very supportive of Saving Spot in the past. They never agreed to attend this year's benefit, and they were not absent due to an argument on their way to the event. The entire scenario was fabricated. There was no such fight, and Ellen and Portia never planned to attend the benefit. Lizzie Scherer deeply regrets that any false statements were reported in the media, and she sincerely apologizes to Ellen and Portia, who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to animals and causes benefitting them."

________

Did Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi cancel a charity appearance for the L.A. pet rescue center Saving Spot!?

On Monday, reports surfaced claiming that the couple got into a huge fight on the way to a Sunday fundraising event for Saving Spot! and never showed up to the event, much to the disappointment of guests. However, a rep for the pair tells us they didn't cancel. In fact, they were never on their way to the charity bash in the first place.

"We were happy to lend our names as honorary chairs and the organization was always aware that we would be unable to attend. This is the first time we have seen our images attached to the invite. It was not approved and it is misleading," DeGeneres and de Rossi tell E! News in a statement.

Additionally, a source tells E! News that two months ago DeGeneres and de Rossi agreed to lend their name to the event but told Saving Spot! they would not be attending. They also approved to be co-chairs and approved an early draft of an invite for the event that was later changed. The morning of the event, DeGeneres' assistant again reminded the owner of Spot! pet shop they would not be attending.

While the 56-year-old talk show host and the 41-year-old actress maintain they were never making appearances at the soiree, one source says organizers were under the impression that they would be in attendance and canceled at the last minute.

Despite missing this year's fundraiser, the couple was in attendance at last year's Saving Spot! fundraiser in L.A. and event helped host the live auction.

—Reporting by Baker Machado