Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres apologises after toxic workplace allegations
- Apology comes after three top producers exited her show after complaints of bullying, racism and sexual misconduct
- Reports of a hostile workplace have included criticism that DeGeneres is mean-spirited
Ellen DeGeneres opened the 18th season of her talk show that’s been mired in controversy for months with a broad apology that addressed allegations of a toxic workplace culture under her watch.
It was the first time the staple of daytime US television publicly addressed the controversy surrounding her, after BuzzFeed News published a report over the summer detailing a culture of fear among her employees that included accusations of sexual misconduct, racism and intimidation from the show’s management.
The scathing reports followed rumours and anecdotal posts on social media that DeGeneres was difficult to work with – and not nearly as nice as her feel-good show portrayed her to be.
“I want to say I am so sorry to the people who were affected. I know that I’m in a position of privilege and power and I realised that with that comes responsibility, and I take responsibility for what happens at my show,” DeGeneres said in her opening monologue, released online ahead of its broadcast later Monday.
DeGeneres said her show was kicking off a “new chapter” after “necessary changes” following an internal investigation from parent company Warner Media, though she did not go into detail on any of the restructuring.
In August three high-level producers were let go: an executive producer Ed Glavin, a co-executive producer Jonathan Norman, and head writer Kevin Leman.