Ellen DeGeneres Show Ousts Top Three Producers After Investigation

By Mary Anne R. First Posted: Aug 18, 2020 05:20 AM EDT

Three top producers of the Ellen DeGeneres Show will be leaving the popular television program after an internal investigation was done over complaints of bullying and sexual misconduct against them, a Warner Bros. Television spokesperson announced on Monday.

The three top producers were executive producers Ed Glavin and Kevin Leman and co-executive producer Jonathan Norman. The decision was made after weeks of turmoil backstage.

Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres was said to be mean-spirited. There were also claims of a hostile work environment.

This pushed a social media campaign calling for DeGeneres' replacement. But the comedian-host has also received a message of support from Katy Perry, Kevin Hart, Alec Baldwin, and Ashton Kutcher.

Hostile Workplace

The Ellen DeGeneres Show is known to promote kindness to one another. But former employees said the "be kind" tagline only happens in front of cameras.

Other former employees also shared their experience while working in the TV show production. An employee said she was fed up with comments on her race.

Another claimed that they were fired after taking medical leave or bereavement days to attend family funerals. Most of the past employees of the show blamed the executive producers and managers for everyday toxicity.

In a joint statement, executive producers Glavin, Mary Connelly, and Andy Lassner said they were sorry to hear that a person in their production family has had a negative experience.

They added that it was not what they strive to be, and not the mission DeGeneres has set for them. The executive producers also said they take responsibility for the show.

"We take all of this very seriously and we realize, as many in the world are learning, that we need to do better, are committed to do better, and we will do better," they said in the statement.

DeGeneres' former bodyguard can also attest to the host's attitude. Former bodyguard Tom Majercak said he was assigned to protect the TV host and her family at the 86th Academy Awards in 2014.

"It started going negatively when she introduced me to Ellen and Ellen pretty much just gave me a side glance out of her eye and didn't even say 'hello,' or 'thank you for protecting my mother, my wife and me'," Majercak said.

DeGeneres' Statement

DeGeneres has released a statement to address the issue, according to a July 31 report.

The TV show host said she is committed to making sure that this does not happen again. She noted that she takes responsibility for that. DeGeneres added that they are starting an immediate internal investigation with Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. said they had done many staffing changes with the right measures to address the issues that have been brought to light. It also said they are taking the first steps to enforce those changes.

DeGeneres said they are finally having talks about fairness and justice. She stressed that she was glad that these issues had been brought to her attention.