Ellen DeGeneres' Former Staff Break Silence On Toxic Work Environment

Several of Ellen DeGeneres’ ex employees have come forward with more unkind claims about the star.

This week, one current and 10 former staffers on The Ellen DeGeneres Show alleged that they experienced racism, fear, and intimidation and that executive producers and senior staff are culpable for stoking a “toxic” work environment.

“That ‘be kind’ bulls–t only happens when the cameras are on. It’s all for show,” a former staffer told BuzzFeed News. “I know they give money to people and help them out, but it’s for show.”

The report contains myriad unflattering allegations. Some staffers claimed they were fired from the showafter taking medical leave or bereavement days for family funerals. A Black ex-staffer said she walked off the job after being fed up with unchecked racist comments and “microaggressions,” while others said they were directed not to speak with DeGeneres if they saw her around the office.

Essentially, the report indicates former employees of the show were subjected to “day-to-day toxicity” and that DeGeneres remained otherwise oblivious and failed to “be more involved to see what’s going on.”

In a statement to the outlet, executive producers Ed Glavin, Mary Connelly, and Andy Lassner stated they are “truly heartbroken and sorry to learn that even one person in our production family has had a negative experience,” promising, “we will do better.”

Despite the statement, the stories shared in the report are damaging.

A Black woman recalled how, after being at Ellen for a year, she was met with silence after asking for a raise when another recent hire had made double for doing the same job, despite her having 10 years of experience in TV. She also claimed she was reprimanded in a meeting with Glavin for raising objections to producers using offensive terms like “spirit animal,” asking for a raise, and insisting there to be diversity and inclusion training on the show. When the meeting was over, she left Ellen and never came back.

Another ex-worker recalled taking medical leave for a suicide attempt only to return to the show a month later to find her position had been terminated.

What's more, it's rumored that anyone who dared to push back against Ellen’s “toxic” workplace culture usually didn't have their contracts renewed.

The BuzzFeed News piece is the latest development in a string of allegations against DeGeneres — catch yourself up here.

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