Ellen DeGeneres Show is under internal investigation following the employees’ complaints over its “toxic” workplace. However, the host is not part of the investigation.
Ellen DeGeneres has been on the air for The Ellen DeGeneres Show for over a decade already. However, the show is under investigation.
Ellen DeGeneres not part of the investigation
An insider close to the production confirmed to NBC News that WarnerMedia had subjected the award-winning show under internal investigation. The move comes on the heels of BuzzFeed News’ report about former employees complaining about the workplace.
The outlet noted that NBC News had not seen the memo sent to the staffers yet. The memo informed the staffers that a third-party firm would be interviewing them about workplace issues, Variety reported.
The source also said that DeGeneres is not part of the investigation because “it is not about her at all,” Today added.
Although DeGeneres was not part of the investigation, many ex-staffers believed that she should also be accountable.
“Some former employees said that because of Ellen’s name and face on the show, they want her to have more accountability and involvement about what goes on behind the scenes,” Buzzfeed entertainment editor Krystie Yandoli told Today.
The Ellen Show complaints
On July 16, BuzzFeed published an article about the 10 former employees and one current staffer who stepped forward to open up about the toxic workplace on the show.
According to them, they endured a culture of racism and experienced intimidation. Many of them blamed the senior managers for the ill-treatment toward them.
One said that it was difficult to file a leave from work. Whenever they do, it’s a battle against them and their supervisor and HR. An ex-staffer said they were fired for failing to show up in the office on three occasions due to an accident and two funerals.
Another said that they raised a GoFundMe page to raise money for medical costs not covered by the company. However, when the management learned about it, they were told to take down the page as it might damage DeGeneres’ image.
“They discovered my fundraiser, then got mad at me. … They were more concerned about Ellen’s brand instead of helping me out,” the former staffer said.
“The biggest common thread that everyone told me is that what goes on behind the scenes is a far cry from what the show represents in their’ be kind’ messaging and what the show and what Ellen DeGeneres herself profits off of,” Yandell shared.
Staff on exposing the show’s problematic workplace
The former employees are reportedly happy that the problematic workplace has been exposed. They have been talking about it.
“They’ve been calling and texting each other about the story,” a source said.
“They’re loving that the truth—which has been an open secret for years in the industry—is finally receiving more interest.”
Image used courtesy of Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock