For years, actress Sarah Paulson—a veteran of terrifying roles in the American Horror Story anthology—was an unwitting participant in one of daytime television’s longest-running gags: being scared senseless by talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. These moments created viral gold, turning Paulson’s genuine, over-the-top reactions into beloved content for the online community. The routine was so popular that Paulson’s multiple appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show were almost guaranteed to feature some form of jump-scare, proving that even a “Scream Queen” can be easily startled off-screen.
Ellen’s strategy, often executed with precision, typically involved surprising Paulson with a person or object popping out from a concealed spot, like a cabinet, a box, or a piece of set dressing positioned right next to the guest chair. On one notable occasion, Ellen even scared her multiple times in a single show, once with a witch and later with a clown, sending the actress into a spiral of terror. Paulson herself admitted to being a generally nervous person with multiple phobias, including a dislike of clowns, which Ellen often exploited for comedic effect.
Paulson’s reactions are what elevate these pranks to comedy masterpieces. Her responses often included an immediate, high-pitched, and prolonged scream that fans affectionately refer to as her signature “death scream.” Her physical response was equally dramatic, involving jumping out of her chair, stumbling backwards, and even famously crawling underneath Ellen’s desk to hide. This spontaneous action often sent the audience into fits of laughter. Once the scare had passed, Paulson would instantly transition from terror to genuine, relieved laughter. She would playfully hit or affectionately scold Ellen, often uttering exasperated and adorable phrases like, “Oh my God, I hate you!” or “Why do you do this to me?” Her rapid mood shift and playful scolding truly endeared these clips to viewers.
The immense popularity of these videos rests on the sharp, delightful irony. Paulson’s career has been built on her ability to portray characters in extreme psychological and physical duress in horror and thriller genres. The fact that an actress who expertly portrays strong, unflappable characters could be so easily terrified by a cartoon mask popping out of a box created a humorous and endearing contrast that viewers couldn’t get enough of. In fact, a tribute was even paid to her status as the show’s favorite prank victim during the final season, with a plaque dedicating a secret tunnel under the stage—used to facilitate the scares—as “The Sarah Paulson Tunnel.”