The Ellen DeGeneres Show, already rocked by claims of a toxic work culture, is now besieged with accusations of sexual misconduct, reports Breitbart News.
Buzzfeed News spoke with dozens of former employees of Ellen DeGeneres’ show who confirmed incidents of sexual harassment and assault, all of whom asked to remain anonymous out of fear of retribution.
Executive producer Kevin Leman faces allegations he asked for a hand job and oral sex from a male staffer in a bathroom during a 2013 company party. He is also alleged to have groped production assistants and made sexually explicit comments in the office. “It’s masked in sarcasm, but it’s not sarcasm,” a former employee said.
Co-executive producer Jonathan Norman is accused of trying to perform oral sex on a male employee. Five former employees claim executive producer Ed Glavin targeted women by touching them in a way that made them uncomfortable. Dozens more said Glavin ruled the office through fear and intimidation.
DeGeneres apologized, claiming ignorance, but former employees aren’t buying it. “She knows,” one said. “She knows shit goes on, but also she doesn’t want to hear it.”