Ellen DeGeneres offers compensation to staff for ‘toxic’ allegations
Ellen DeGeneres has addressed the allegations of workplace toxicity by offering more perks and benefits to her employees. But will it be enough to silence her critics?
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In response to mounting allegations of a toxic work environment at Ellen DeGeneres’ eponymous talk show, Page Six of the New York Postreported that the embattled daytime TV host is increasing perks for her employees.
It is believed that staffers will receive increased paid time off and a generous medical leave policy.
Executive producers Andy Lassner and Mary Connelly delivered the news, which was apparently something DeGeneres and the senior team felt strongly about adding given how they produce more than 170 shows per year.
The new benefits package, which also includes birthdays off and paid time for medical appointments and family matters, also comes after DeGeneres, 62, emotionally addressed her staff via Zoom on Monday and apologised for the behind-the-scenes incidents.
Insiders said that the new perks and a direct address from DeGeneres this week have improved morale on the set, as rehearsals for DeGeneres’ spin-off show “Ellen’s Game of Games” resumed.
The talk show team also started to return to work to wake up production offices and sound stages.
A separate source added that DeGeneres will return to set next week and some staffers are excited to “move forward” from the drama.
WHERE DID IT BEGIN?
It comes as DeGeneres confessed she doesn’t know where the no-eye-contact rule came from on the set of her daytime talk show.
According to the New York Post’s Page Six sources revealed that during DeGeneres’ Zoom call with her staff on Monday afternoon, she addressed the unspoken rule that forbade anyone from looking her in the eyes.
“I don’t know where it started,” said DeGeneres, 62. “Please talk to me. Look me in the eye.”
Describing the rumoured rule as “insane,” DeGeneres continued, “It’s crazy, just not true, I don’t know how it started. [It’s] not who I am.”
A former producer of Australia’s Today show in July revealed DeGeneres’ staff’s demands when she made an appearance on the show back in 2013.
“‘She’ll come in, she’ll sit down, she’ll talk to Richard and then Ellen will leave,’” Neil Breen recalled her staff telling him. “And I sort of said, ‘I can’t look at her?’ I found the whole thing bizarre.”
DeGeneres plans to interact with her staff more while working on the show’s upcoming season, which she was excited to get back to.
WarnerMedia is nearing the end of its investigation into the show, which has already ousted three top producers from its ranks: executive producers Ed Glavin and Kevin Leman and co-executive producer Jonathan Norman.
The top producers’ removal came after staffers accused them of sexual misconduct.
DeGeneres’ in-house DJ, Stephen “tWitch” Boss, who recently said there’s “been love” on set, has been named co-executive producer.
EX-GIRLFRIEND ANNE HECHE WEIGHS IN ON ‘TOXIC’ CLAIMS
Ellen DeGeneres’ ex-girlfriend Anne Heche has weighed in on the embattled daytime talk show host’s ongoing toxic workplace scandal.
“I haven’t spoken to Ellen in years. I’d listen to the people who have,” Heche, 51, told a magazine for its cover story.
According to the New York Post’s Page Six, Heche described her nearly four-year relationship with DeGeneres as “a beautiful part” of her life that she wears “with honour” but hinted that there might be something to the complaints surrounding the Ellen show.
“If I’m standing someplace and I don’t like what’s going on there and I stay there, it’s my fault,” said Heche, who dated DeGeneres from 1997 to 2000.
“So what are the actions that got me there and why can’t I get out of it easily if that’s not something that I want to be engaged in?”
She added, “Ellen is standing where she walks, and that is hers to continue that journey.”
Past and current employees of the show have anonymously came forward and complained of a toxic workplace environment on the set despite Ellen’s mantra “be kind.”
ELLEN, PORTIA’S HOME ROBBERY AN ‘INSIDE JOB’
Ellen DeGeneres’ local neighbourhood association has claimed her recent burglary was an “inside job”.
Ellen and Aussie wife Portia de Rossi’s $A40 million Montecito mansion was burglarised on July 4, and cops originally believed their property was “targeted due to the victim’s celebrity status”.
However, the Montecito Association has now hinted that the local sheriff told the executive director that the crime was an “inside job” and that the community did not need to worry about more robberies in the area.
The newsletter, emailed on August 12 and obtained by T he Sun, reads: “If it had been a case of outsiders coming in and breaking and entering, I’d have alerted you to be on the lookout and lock up everything.
“According to our very helpful Sheriff Lt Arnoldi, that appears to be an inside job.”
The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office PIO told The Sun there is “no update” to report as they continue to investigate.
There is no indication, suggestion or inference that Ellen or Portia had any involvement in the robbery, The Sun reported.
The couple’s neighbours include Oprah Winfrey, while Prince Harry and Meghan Markle recently moved into the area.
The break-in took place on July 4 and law enforcement sources reportedly told TMZ that some of the stolen items include high-value jewellery and watches.
There is not yet an estimation of the total value lost during the hit at the home just outside of Santa Barbara, CA.
At the time, officers were concerned it may have been connected to other celebrity home burglaries in the affluent community.
Police sent out a message to public figures warning them to avoid posting on social media if they are out of town and advised to leave lights on when leaving the house.
The newsletter added that the local neighbourhood had “had to deal with people coming into the area, casing our properties, and breaking and entering.
“We’ve gotten far more vigilant about this, and now we question strange vehicles on our streets, camping at our trails, and other incursions that may not be good for the community.”
It has also not yet been confirmed if Ellen, 62, or Portia, 47, were home at the time of the break-in.
The incident happened after Ellen came under fire for saying filming while under lockdown inside the pricey pad was “like being in jail.”
She had been filming her talk show from the pad.
A week later bombshell accusations were made against the comedian for her “mean” behaviour and allowing a “toxic” work environment.
ELLEN’S FAMOUS TV DJ LIFTS LID ON SHOW’S ‘TOXICITY’
Ellen DeGeneres’ former TV DJ has broken his silence about the embattled show, saying he felt the “toxicity” on set.
Tony Okungbowa, who was the resident DJ on Ellen for nine seasons, has joined the chorus of former staff members and Hollywood stars who have criticised the talk show host.
Okungbowa backed his former colleagues over claims that the work environment was toxic, amid claims of bullying and racism on the show.
“I was on-air talent from 2003-2006 and from 2007-2013. While I am grateful for the opportunity it afforded me, I did experience and feel the toxicity of the environment and I stand with my former colleagues in their quest to create a healthier and more inclusive workplace as the show moves forward,” he posted.
Okungbowa, who was known on the show as DJ Tony, appeared in more than 1600 episodes during his tenure.
After leaving the show he pursued an acting career.
But A-list celebrities have backed DeGeneres, as the comedian is said to be “crushed” and “hysterical” over allegations of toxic behaviour and misconduct on the set of her TV show.
“She’s been hysterical,” a source who knows DeGeneres told the New York Post. “She felt like everything she worked so hard for was falling apart. She’s crushed.”
DeGeneres is fighting for her professional life amid claims of racism, bullying, sexual misconduct and general “toxicity” behind the scenes of Ellen and spends her days weeping over how quickly her beloved public persona has evaporated, sources told the New York Post.
US ratings for her daytime program have slipped to their lowest, according to The Wrap, which noted a 9 per cent drop from the previous week and a steep 29 per cent fall from the same period in summer 2019, the New York Post said.
Details of less-than-kind behind-the-scenes behaviour — and horror stories about what it’s like to work for DeGeneres’ show — have grown in recent weeks.
1/2 I know I can’t speak for anyone else’s experience besides my own but I want to acknowledge that I have only ever had positive takeaways from my time with Ellen & on the @theellenshow. I think we all have witnessed the light & continual fight for equality that she has brought
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) August 4, 2020
2/2 to the world through her platform for decades. Sending you love & a hug, friend @TheEllenShow ♥ï¸
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) August 4, 2020
But celebrities including Kevin Hart and Katy Perry – as well as Australian comedian Dave Hughes – took to social media to defend her.
“I know I can’t speak for anyone else’s experience besides my own but I want to acknowledge that I have only ever had positive takeaways from my time with Ellen & on the @theellenshow,” Perry wrote via Twitter.
“I think we all have witnessed the light & continual fight for equality that she has brought to the world through her platform for decades.”
Added the star: “Sending you love & a hug, friend @TheEllenShow.”
It’s crazy to see my friend go thru what she’s going thru publicly. I have known Ellen for years and I can honestly say that she’s one of the dopest people on the fucking planet. She has treated my family and my team… https://t.co/oCTOc4vJXn
— Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) August 4, 2020
Perry, who is currently expecting her first child with actor Orlando Bloom, has been a regular guest on the show.
Meantime, Australian comedian Hughes shared a selfie on Instagram, captioned with “#istandbyellen”.
Other A-list stars are standing by DeGeneres and showing their support on social media.
Diane Keaton posted on Instagram a photo of her laughing with her host, saying that she “always enjoyed” appearing on the show, saying she witnessed “happiness and gratitude” from the audience while there.
Jay Leno tweeted that he had known the fellow comedian for 40 years and wouldn’t abandon his friend on “hearsay”, saying he knew her to be a “kind and decent” person.
I don’t discard a 40-year friendship on hearsay. The Ellen I know has raised over $125 million dollars for charity and has always been a kind and decent person. I fully support her. Jay Leno pic.twitter.com/b3i283YIBk
— Jay Leno (@jayleno) August 4, 2020
Ashton Kutcher also tweeted about his own experience on the show during which he says he only ever experienced “respect & kindness”.
I haven’t spoken with @TheEllenShow and can only speak from my own experience. She & her team have only treated me & my team w/ respect & kindness. She never pandered to celebrity which I always saw as a refreshing honesty. When things aren’t right she handles it and fixes.
— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) August 5, 2020
Alec Baldwin and wife Hilaria Baldwin also tweeted their support for the comedian: “In the entertainment business, sometimes people can go too far in pursuit of a creative or commercial goal. Or people who work for you may do so. Having stated that, @TheEllenShow has always been kind to me. So … there’s that.”
CRISIS TALKS AT ELLEN
It came as senior executive producers on Ellen held a call with staff to address workplace concerns, according to Us Weekly.
Among those reportedly on the call were senior staff members, Andy Lassner, Mary Connelly and Derek Westervelt.
During the meeting, the producers reportedly said that they wanted staff to “have fun at work”.
A source told the magazine that producers “said a lot of [the claims are] true and a lot of it is not true”.
The producers allegedly told those on the call that they “are handling everything [and] things will be very different now”.
What will change on the show has not been made public.
1/2 I know I can’t speak for anyone else’s experience besides my own but I want to acknowledge that I have only ever had positive takeaways from my time with Ellen & on the @theellenshow. I think we all have witnessed the light & continual fight for equality that she has brought
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) August 4, 2020
2/2 to the world through her platform for decades. Sending you love & a hug, friend @TheEllenShow ♥ï¸
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) August 4, 2020
The source told the magazine that during the meeting some of the show staffers “voiced some concern”. Some of the producers were also “called out” about past incidents.
The three executive producers reportedly assured staff that “the show will go on”, and that DeGeneres is “not giving up”.
The source told the magazine that the call was like “a pep talk” and some staff left feeling better about the situation.
DeGeneres recently apologised for the atmosphere on set in a letter to staff and vowed that she is “committed to ensuring this does not happen again”.
PORTIA HITS BACK AT ELLEN’S HATERS
On Monday, DeGeneres’ wife Portia de Rossi broke her silence over claims the talk show host is “mean” and not as “kind” as her public image would have the world believe.
“I stand by Ellen,” the Australian-born de Rossi posted to Instagram.
The actress, who originally hails from Geelong, added the hashtags “I stand with Ellen DeGeneres”, “I Stand by Ellen” and “I Stand by Ellen DeGeneres”.
“To all our fans … we see you. Thank you for your support,” de Rossi captioned the post.
She also added the hashtag #stopbotattacks, which appeared to imply that the allegations came from “bots” and were unfounded.
De Rossi, who has given up acting to focus on her art company, General Public, used the same hashtags that fans had been circulating on social media in recent weeks.
But de Rossi’s own “I Stand By Ellen” blue post was soon its very own campaign, as fans shared it widely across social media in support of the Australian’s besieged wife.
This is the first time de Rossi has spoken publicly since DeGeneres’ show became the subject of an internal investigation at Warner Bros in the US amid claims of a “toxic” work culture, racism and staff “bullying”.
Since May, Hollywood insiders have been speaking out on DeGeneres’ alleged rude behaviour to her staff and others.
DeGeneres, whose talk show has run for 17 seasons, has strongly denied the allegations and has placed any blame squarely on the senior executive producers who work under her.
Interestingly, aside from Perry, most of DeGeneres’ high profile Hollywood friends have remained silent on the rumours.
Kris Jenner, who holidayed with the couple in 2016, liked de Rossi’s post, but other high profile friends of DeGeneres such as Pink, Adele and Reese Witherspoon have yet to comment publicly. Nor have any of the stars in DeGeneres’ famous 2014 “broke the internet” selfie when, as Oscars host, she shared a pic featuring A-listers Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence.
But she had some support. Scooter Braun, who manages Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, told DeGeneres to “keep your head high”.
“People love to take shots. They love to see people fall. How quickly so many forget. How easy it is to stay quiet when it doesn’t effect [sic] them,” Braun wrote in an Instagram post. “[DeGeneres] is a kind, thoughtful, courageous human being who stands for what is right and highlights on her show the best of us. She has helped change the views for equality all around the country and the world. She doesn’t do what is popular she does what is right.”
“Today I’m sending love out to her,” he added. “I know first hand how much she helps others both when we are all watching and when we are not. @theellenshow thank you for all you do and keep your head held high.”
De Rossi and DeGeneres have been together for 16 years.
The famous couple first met in 2000, with de Rossi telling Oprah Winfrey it was a “love at first sight situation”, but she said she kept her feelings secret as she was “deeply closeted” at the time and “not living as an openly gay person”.
“I was closeted and very, very afraid that if I talked about being gay, it would be the end of my career, so I wasn’t about to date the most famous lesbian in the world.”
The couple reconnected in 2004 while DeGeneres was in a relationship with photographer Alexandra Hedison, who is now married to double Osacr winner, Jodie Foster.
“I ran into Ellen at a photo shoot [in 2004] and she took my breath away,” de Rossi told the Advocate in 2005.
“That had never happened to me in my life, where I saw somebody and [experienced] all of those things you hear about in songs and read about in poetry. My knees were weak. It was amazing.”
The couple married in 2008 at their Los Angeles home in front of just 19 guests.
ELLEN’S WORLD OF PAIN
The one-time darling of US daytime TV, DeGeneres, has suddenly found her famous show at the centre of allegations of “mean behaviour” and bullying.
It comes amid reports the comedian’s show is facing the axe amid sliding ratings.
Other rumours have emerged that a replacement host is already being lined.
Here’s how it unfolded.
THAT DAKOTA JOHNSON INTERVIEW
In late 2019, actress Dakota Johnson appeared on Ellen’s show, where the hostess asked why Johnson hadn’t invited her to a birthday party.
A smiling Johnson said: “But I did invite you and you didn’t come. Ask everybody.”
DeGeneres denied any memory of being invited.
It later turned out she was at a football game sitting beside former President George W. Bush. Influential entertainment programs in the US replayed the interview over and over and made sure viewers knew it was an awkward moment for DeGeneres.
THE FALLOUT
Devoted fans of liberal darling DeGeneres – who is married to Australian Portia De Rossi – were outraged at pictures and video of her sitting beside Bush at the football game.
Many critics pointed at his war record with Iraq, while others highlighted his support for a constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage.
“Just because I don’t agree with someone on everything doesn’t mean I’m not going to be friends with them,” she opined.
“I mean be kind to everyone.”
But this didn’t wash with her fellow Hollywood liberals like actor Mark Ruffalo.
“Sorry, until George W. Bush is brought to justice for the crimes of the Iraq War … we can’t even begin to talk about kindness.”
Actor John Cusack accused DeGeneres of “normalising mass murderers” through association with Mr Bush.
‘IT’S LIKE BEING IN JAIL’
Next came DeGeneres’s assertion that being in COVID lockdown was “like being in jail”.
She said this on a video that showed her sitting with her feet up with a lush garden in the background.
“It’s mostly because I’ve been wearing the same clothes for 10 days and everyone is gay.” She then laughed and clapped her hands.
In the age of outrage, her comments went down poorly with the keyboard warriors.
“Hey, Ellen, go volunteer at a grocery store or food bank. Get on the front lines if being sequestered in your mansion is just too difficult. Unbelievable,” a Twitter warrior cried.
THE BODYGUARD
In May, a former bodyguard to DeGeneres, Tom Majercak, said the TV star had a very different off-screen persona when he was assigned to protect her and her family – including Aussie wife de Rossi – during the Oscars in 2014.
“I’m holding their hands and walking them through individuals and large groups of people. Ellen is the one person that I’ve been assigned to – and I’ve been assigned to quite a few celebrities – that has never taken the time to say hi to me.
“It started going negatively when she (de Rossi) 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’.
“It was very cold and it was very sly and it was actually kind of demeaning in the way that she treats people other than those who are in her circle.
“When you see her on TV, people fall in love with her but it is a false facade and bravado. You start hearing these stories and I was like, ‘Man, there’s got to be more to this.’ She’s not the person she portrays to be that she’s playing off of society. That’s my opinion.”
THE OUTPOURING
Soon after, a Twitter post asking people to share their unpleasant experiences with DeGeneres went viral.
Allegations of workplace unhappiness emerged and the star’s smiley, happy profile began to take serious hits.
A shocking Twitter thread in March, which was the first legitimate insight into claims against Ellen, cast doubt on her reputation.
Writer and comedian Kevin T. Porter tweeted: “Right now we all need a little kindness. You know, like Ellen DeGeneres always talks about!
“She’s also notoriously one of the meanest people alive. Respond to this with the most insane stories you’ve heard about Ellen being mean & I’ll match every one w/ $2 to @LAFoodBank.”
There were more than 1000 replies to Porter’s tweet, with people detailing their not-so-nice experiences with DeGeneres.
TV writer Benjamin Siemon replied to Porter’s tweet with: “She has a ‘sensitive nose’ so everyone must chew gum from a bowl outside her office before talking to her and if she thinks you smell that day you have to go home and shower.”
THE APOLOGY
Earlier this month, Ellen employees revealed bombshell accusations they suffered from “racism, fear and intimidation” on set.
Current and 10 former crew members from the daytime series spoke to BuzzFeed News about the “toxic work environment” but remained anonymous due to fear of retribution.
The outlet said some staff claimed to have been fired because they took medical leave or bereavement days to attend family funerals.
An internal investigation was launched earlier this week by the show’s parent company WarnerMedia after the employees came forward.
Once the allegations were made, DeGeneres issued an apology letter to her staff.
She wrote: “On day one of our show, I told everyone in our first meeting that The Ellen DeGeneres Show would be a place of happiness – no one would ever raise their voice, and everyone would be treated with respect.
“Obviously, something changed, and I am disappointed to learn that this has not been the case. And for that, I am sorry.”
Executive producers Ed Glavin, Mary Connelly, and Andy Lassner released a joint statement to the outlet, claiming they take the stories “very seriously” and admitted they need to “do better.”
AND THE HITS KEEP COMING
Back to the Future star Lea Thompson agreed this week it is “common knowledge” that DeGeneres treats people “horribly.”
The actress, 59, backed up fellow actor Brad Garrett’s claims that he “know[s] more than one who were treated horribly by [Ellen].”
Tagging DeGeneres in his tweet, Garrett wrote: “Sorry but it comes from the top @TheEllenShow Know more than one who were treated horribly by her. Common knowledge.”
Thompson lent her support to Garrett by commenting on an article detailing the tweets: “True story. It is.”
His tweet came after a Variety article that included the apology DeGeneres sent to her staff, which seemed to imply her underlings were to blame.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The entertainment rumour mill is in overdrive on this topic.
One line of thought says she will tough it out and try to rebuild her shattered image.
Other rumours have emerged that a replacement host is already being lined up, with British comedian James Corden mentioned as one possibility.
In July DeGeneres, 62, and her long-running hit had its season-low rating of 1.5 for two straight weeks.
The series came behind Dr. Phil and Live with Kelly and Ryan for the daytime syndication ratings, according to NextTV.
Before the allegations were made this year, DeGeneres’ ratings were consistently around 2.0 for her daytime slot, with previous seasons garnering an average of 4.5 million viewers.
As the Finding Dory star’s ratings continue to drop, her NBC counterpart, The Kelly Clarkson Show, has seen a spike in numbers.
Reports have recently surfaced that because the comedian’s show is sliding in ratings, her show is being cancelled. However there is no confirmation that this is true.
One thing is for sure: with an estimated fortune of more than $A500 million, DeGeneres could afford to retire.
Originally published as Ellen DeGeneres offers compensation to staff for ‘toxic’ allegations