Warner Bros., the producer of Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show told employees it was looking into reports of a toxic workplace, including complaints of intimidation and racism.
Telepictures, a unit of Warner Bros. Entertainment, informed staff on the show last week that it was enlisting WarnerMedia’s employee relations team and a third-party consultant to interview current and former employees about their experiences on the production, according to a memo seen by The L-A Times.
The memo asked those approached to participate openly in the confidential process so it could improve the environment on the “Ellen DeGeneres Show.”
The move to gather testimony by employees follows months during which DeGeneres has been quarantining at home during the pandemic, but the allegedly unflattering workings of her show have spilled into public view.
DeGeneres, whose tag line is “Be kind to one another,” faced a litany of criticisms for bad behavior in a Twitter thread started by comedian Kevin T. Porter, complaints from crew about being abandoned during the shutdown, and an investigation by BuzzFeed News into allegations of intimidation and racism on the chat show, which airs on NBC.
The employees, current and former, interviewed by BuzzFeed, spoke of being fired for taking medical or bereavement leave; one said she was a victim of racial discrimination.
In April, “Ellen” producers told the union crew to expect a 60% cut in pay while a nonunion, outside tech company, Key Code, was hired to assist with production as DeGeneres tapes shows on a set constructed at her home, Variety reported.
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