Breitbart News reports that The Ellen DeGeneres Show is under internal investigation by corporate parent WarnerMedia into accusations that executives allowed a hostile work environment to fester for years.
Executives from show producer Telepictures and distributor Warner Bros. Television sent a memo to staffers last week saying they have engaged WarnerMedia’s employee relations group and a third-party firm to interview current and former staffers about their experiences on the daytime talk show, hosted by LGBT activist Ellen DeGeneres.
Buzzfeed News reported this month on several former employees who say the show is hiding a toxic work culture where people are mistreated and fired for taking medical leave and bereavement days. “That ‘be kind’ bullshit only happens when the cameras are on. It’s all for show,” one former employee said. “I know they give money to people and help them out, but it’s for show.”
DeGeneres was already facing criticism from crew members over a lack of communication and the hiring of non-union crew during the pandemic.