Ellen DeGeneres Show employees told changes are being made after ‘toxicity’ investigation found allegations to be true
Ellen DeGeneres. (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Staff on The Ellen DeGeneres Show have been told that changes will be made on set after an investigation found that some allegations of misconduct were true.
The long-running talkshow has been mired in controversy for weeks after former and current staff alleged that the set is plagued by racism, bullying and sexual misconduct.
WarnerMedia promptly launched an investigation into Ellen DeGeneres’ talkshow – and they found that some claims made by staff could be corroborated.
Warner Bros Television told staff on the show in an email on Thursday (13 August) that not all of the anonymous allegations could be backed up – but some had been confirmed to be true, The Independent reports.
WarnerMedia said it was ‘disappointed’ that some allegations of misconduct on The Ellen DeGeneres Show were true.
“We are disappointed that the primary findings of the investigation indicated some deficiencies related to the show’s day-to-day management,” the email said.
The parent company said staffing changes and other measures would be put in place in an effort to stamp out the show’s toxic culture.
However, the email did not provide specific details of exactly what changes staff can expect to see.
We are disappointed that the primary findings of the investigation indicated some deficiencies related to the show’s day-to-day management.
Ellen DeGeneres has seen her reputation torn to shreds in recent weeks and months as her famed “kind” persona has been thrown into question.
Earlier this year, she was accused of being “one of the meanest people alive” in a viral Twitter thread.
Last month, former and current staff told Buzzfeed about some of the alleged mistreatment they had experienced on-set.
The once-loved talkshow host has been accused of “turning a blind eye” while staff were allegedly mistreated.
Former and current staff have hit out at the show’s ‘toxic’ culture.
DeGeneres, 62, is said to have fired people for attending family funerals or taking medical leave, while producers joked that they’d mix up two Black employees because they had the same hairstyle.
One Black woman alleged that one of the show’s main writers said they only know the names of white employees, and people just “awkwardly laughed it off” rather than confronting it.
Others claimed that direct managers instructed lower-ranking employees not to speak to Ellen if they saw her around the office.
Overall, the former staff blamed senior managers and producers for the toxicity, but stressed that as it’s DeGeneres’ name on the brand “she really needs to take more responsibility”.
Since the allegations emerged, WarnerMedia has launched an investigation into the show, and rumours have abounded that DeGeneres herself will be replaced.
However, her wife Portia de Rossi insisted last week that DeGeneres has no immediate plans to call it quits.
