A new report has shed light on the alleged toxic work environment behind the scenes of “The Kelly Clarkson Show.” Former employees are said to have spoken out about their negative experiences, describing the atmosphere as one of fear and intimidation stirred by the show’s producer, Alex Duda. It’s important to note that those who’ve come forward are not blaming Clarkson since they believe she probably has no idea how bad things have been for some of her staffers; the blame is mostly being put on the people running the talk show.
“NBC is protecting the show because it’s their new money maker, but Kelly has no clue how unhappy her staff is,” one former employee told Rolling Stone. “I remember going up on the roof of the stage to cry, being like, ‘Oh, my gosh, what am I doing? Why am I putting myself through this?’” The accusations of a toxic work environment have caused concern for many, especially with the show expected to start filming from its new studio in New York later this year.
NBC has acknowledged the allegations and stated that they are taking them seriously, but they have not yet commented on any specific actions being taken to address the issue. One former employee described feeling undervalued and mistreated while working on the show. They stated that they felt like they were constantly walking on eggshells and that there was no room for creativity or growth. Clarkson has yet to address the allegations made about her show.
The report comes just three years after reports of a toxic work environment and rampant sexual misconduct as well as harassment had surfaced about the now-defunct “Ellen” talk show, leading to an investigation by Warner Media. DeGeneres had denied any knowledge of the situation and blamed her top producers for insulating her from the details of the show. However, former employees have stated that DeGeneres was experiencing the ultimate consequence of being the face and leader of a TV show where misconduct ran rampant behind the scenes for years.
DeGeneres left her daytime TV show after 19 years, but her legacy has been damaged by these allegations. She broke barriers by being one of the most successful gay talk show hosts and strongly fought for equality on her platform, but her reputation was harmed due to the endless allegations about her alleged behavior when cameras weren’t rolling.
In March 2020, a tweet asking for stories of Ellen’s bad behavior went viral, and BuzzFeed News later reported former employees’ accounts of racism, intimidation, and a culture of fear. Three executive producers were fired over allegations of harassment or misconduct.
The allegations have caused a decline in ratings, making it harder to find advertisers and sponsors. Despite this, DeGeneres interviewed a range of A-list stars in her final season. The controversy surrounding The Ellen Show has brought to light important issues in the entertainment industry and workplace culture in general. It serves as a reminder that even those who appear to be advocates for social justice and equality can fall short in their actions behind the scenes.