Ellen DeGeneres catches audience member stealing on season 14 launch

Ellen DeGeneres’ hidden camera pranks have become well-known for their funny and friendly endings in recent years.

But this time it didn’t end well when an audience member got caught stealing on camera.

To celebrate the return of her chat show for its 14th season, Ellen decided to do a giveaway to audience members.

The 59-year-old comic told her audience they could each have one free gift from the gift shop.

Nobody was guarding the gift shop as audience members went to pick their free gift – meaning that, if they wanted to break the rules, they could.

“I just wanted to see how honest my audience was,” she said.

“It turns out you’re very, very honest. But we set up hidden cameras just to make sure.”

Ellen commended an audience member who was so honest she paid for the second item she wanted, instead of taking it.

However another audience member, Nancy, was not so honest.

Nancy’s friend asks her if she’s taking “more stuff” and Nancy says, “Shhh. No. Shut up,” as she grabs multiple souvenirs.

Ellen, who is reported to be worth $360m and earns $75m a year, aired the undercover footgae for everyone to see.

The squirming audience member claimed the extra item was for her sister.

“I like that you liked the products so much that you wanted to bring one back for your sister,” Ellen told Nancy in front of the studio audience.

“You’re the kind of person that when you go trick-or-treating and nobody’s home you don’t just take one piece of candy, you take the bowl.”

She then had Nancy removed from her seat in the audience.

“Let that be a lesson to you,” she told Nancy.

“You think nobody’s watching you, and you just need to be a good person…You go sit in that Ellen chair right now.”