“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” is under an internal investigation by WarnerMedia according to Variety magazine. The problems for Ellen started in April when Variety reported that the producers were not letting staff know about pay or benefits during the COVID quarantine shut down.
Once that news was out there, employees were emboldened to start talking to reporters. Two weeks ago Buzzfeed came out with a story about the toxic culture Ellen had created. “That ‘be kind’ B.S. only happens when the cameras are on. It’s all for show,” one former employee told BuzzFeed News. The story goes on to quote employees, both former and current, feeling like racist comments were being made towards them."I feel angry about the way I was treated, and I am always going to stand up for Black, Indigenous, Latino, and Asian people, regardless if they’re around.”
Neither Ellen or her producers had any comments on the investigation that was first learned of in a leaked memo that had been sent to staff. Warner Bros Television sent a memo to staff last week saying they are working with WarnerMedia’s employee relations group and a third party firm, who will interview current and former staffers about their experiences on set.