The ‘Ellen’ Show Fired Three Executive Producers Amid Toxic Workplace Claims & Sexual Misconduct Allegations

The ‘Ellen’ Show Fired Three Executive Producers Amid Toxic Workplace Claims & Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Update #2: New details have surfaced surrounding the “Ellen” show. According to reports, three top executive producers have been fired amid sexual harassment allegations and accusations that the popular talk show used fear and intimidation to run the show. Reportedly, executive producers Ed Glavin and Kevin Leman, and co-executive producer Jonathan Norman were fired.

Original Story: The allegations that are coming out against Ellen DeGeneres and her talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show don’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. Currently, The Ellen DeGeneres Show is under internal investigation by WarnerMedia. This investigation is due to a recent stream of allegations of racism, sexual assault, bullying, and an overall bad work environment made by former employees of the show.  

As previously reported, several past employees of the famous daytime talk show anonymously spoke with BuzzFeed News regarding the alleged work abuse they experienced on the show.  One of them commented on Ellen’s happy persona and said:

“That ‘be kind’ bullsh*t only happens when the cameras are on. It’s all for show. I know they give money to people and help them out, but it’s for show.”

A black woman who once worked for The Ellen Show spoke on the racism she experienced from senior-level executives of the talk show. 

“I was told, ‘Oh wow, you both have box braids; I hope we don’t get you confused.’ [And at a work party, one of the writers said,] ‘I’m sorry, I only know the names of the white people who work here.’”

According to reports, ex-employees of The Ellen Show are now coming forward with sexual assault claims against executive producers as well. One person alleged that they were once solicited for oral sex by the show’s head writer/executive producer Kevin Leman. Many other ex-workers from the show had sexual assault allegations against Leman, with one person even claiming they saw Leman allegedly physically grab a production assistant’s genitalia.

Ellen DeGeneres has issued an apology letter to her former workers amid the allegations that have come out against her show. In the apology letter, she wrote 

“On day one of our show, I told everyone in our first meeting that ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ would be a place of happiness — no one would ever raise their voice, and everyone would be treated with respect. Obviously, something changed, and I am disappointed to learn that this has not been the case. And for that, I am sorry.”

She continued:

“As we’ve grown exponentially I’ve not been able to stay on top of everything and relied on others to do their jobs as they knew I’d want them done. Clearly some didn’t. That will now change and I’m committed to ensuring this does not happen again.”

She added:

“As someone who was judged and nearly lost everything for just being who I am. I truly understand and have deep compassion for those being looked at differently, or treated unfairly, not equal, or — worse — disregarded. To think that any one of you felt that way is awful to me.”

Warner Bros. released a statement regarding the allegations against its talk show that said 

“We have identified several staffing changes, along with appropriate measures to address the issues that have been raised, and are taking the first steps to implement them. Warner Bros. and Ellen DeGeneres are all committed to ensuring a workplace based on respect and inclusion. We are confident this course of action will lead us to the right way forward for the show.”

What are your thoughts on the new allegations against ‘Ellen’ workers? Let us know in the comments.