“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” has revamped its senior production team following allegations of racial insensitivity, sexual abuse and other issues in the work environment at the talk show over extended days.
Three senior producers – executive producers Ed Glavin and Kevin Leman, and co-executive Jonathan Norman – have been fired from the Warner Bros.-scattered syndicate strip after damned allegations made in recent reports by Buzzfeed and Variation. “Ellen” veterans Mary Connelly, Andy Lassner and Derek Westervelt will remain at the show as executive producers alongside host DeGeneres. Connelly, Lassner and Westervelt have been with the show since its inception in 2003.
A spokesman for Warner Bros. confirmed that Glavin, Leman and Norman “have parted ways” with the show.
The news was delivered Monday afternoon to “Ellen” employees during a staff meeting in which DeGeneres spoke via a video conference call. DeGeneres was emotional to tears, and apologetic for addressing more than 200 employees. According to several sources, DeGeneres told the staff that she was ‘not perfect’ and realized that in trying for the show to run like a “good oil machine”, leaders were sometimes not as sensitive to “people” as they would be. must have been. She added that reading disturbing accusations about the atmosphere on the show was “heartbreaking”.
DeGeneres even went so far as to point out that the show has at times alienated staff members and even guests by shifting shooting schedules in the short term. She promised to abide by agreements on schedules to make the production process for everything smoother.
At the same time, Connelly and Lassner addressed during the meeting the results of the studio’s internal investigation which was sparked by the flurry of reports. After interviews with more than 100 people connected to the show, the probe found that there was no evidence of “systemic” racism on the show, although there was an acknowledgment that more was needed to do in terms of diversity and inclusion. DeGeneres and others promise that everyone on staff – including DeGeneres – will participate in workshops for diversity and inclusion. The host also announced that the show’s resident DJ, Stephen “tWitch” Boss, had been promoted to co-executive producer.
Warner Bros. declined to comment on the specifications of the study. Sources said DeGeneres and other other producers did not take questions from staff, who are still working remotely. DeGeneres is said to have promised to meet in small groups with staff once the pandemic’s health threat is over. The show has been criticized for a lack of variety in its staff, something the studio has promised to address.
The outbursts were already to be expected since Glavin, Leman and Norman were quoted in a July 30 story published by BuzzFeed over allegations of abuse, harassment and questionable behavior on the show’s set. The trio was hung in the wake of the BuzzFeed story and have since ended, multiple sources said.
Sources close to the situation said Leman and Glavin are also out as EPs on other DeGeneres-produced shows, including NBC’s “Ellen’s Game of Games.” Staff were also told the show was pushing back its 18th-season debut by a few days, to Sept. 14.
In response to the complaints that found their way into media reports, Warner Bros. a dedicated HR representative set up for the show and a hotline for complaints. DeGeneres told staff she had hoped to address her earlier, but was told she did not although the investigation was ongoing.
DeGeneres responded to the persistent rumor that employees and guests were told not to address them or look themselves in the eye when they encountered the host on the set or in the offices on the fate of Warner Bros. She called that “crazy” and “not true,” although she also described herself as an “introvert.” They apologized to anyone who felt ‘wronged’, according to multiple sources.
DeGeneres has repeatedly claimed she was ‘proud’ of the show’s success and ability to spin extra shows such as ‘Ellen’s Game of Games’. ‘She also expressed gratitude to staff, many of whom have been with her the whole run. She insisted the show would ‘return strongly’ next month.
“This will be the best season we’ve ever had,” DeGeneres said.