Fans of The Ellen DeGeneres Show maybe remember another DJ behind the booth before Stephen “tWitch” Boss joined the show. Tony Okungbowa created the role when the talk show began during the day in 2003. With Ellen DeGeneres under public scrutiny over allegations of toxic workplaces, Okungbowa waited in line.
Who’s Tony Okungbowa?
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The Ellen Show promoted “DJ” tWitch this week, along with the dismissal of three top producers. Resident dancer, tWitch, has been a mainstay on the show since 2012, for which Tony Okungbowa held the venue.
DeGeneres first started hosting her Emmy-winning talk show in 2003. Okungbowa took the stage with her, appearing in more than 1,600 episodes between 2003-2013.
Okungbowa went away to pursue his acting career and has since appeared on shows like The Bold and the Beautiful, Ray Donovan, and more. Recently, you can record him as a series regular Bob Hearts Abhishola en Consequences.
Officially traded, Okungbowa is an actual DJ, “in constant demand to play sets worldwide for clients such as The Grammys, Golden Globes, CFDA Awards, The Espy’s, Art Basel, Four Seasons Puerto Rico, Forbes Travel Guide, and The Cove Bahamas,” his website states.
The producer and star of entries from Sundance Film Festival Mother of George, Restless City, en Echo Park also released albums Hollywood Sessions Vol. 1, Total Dance 2009, en A night to remember with Dj Jojo Flores.
Under his own Turntable Studios, the DJ has many more projects in the works.
Okungbowa underlines ‘Ellen Show’ claims regarding ‘toxicity’
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Today, the July report released by BuzzFeed News has been circulated many times. The in-depth feature detailed previous employee experiences while working at The Ellen Show.
Complaints about workplace harassment, racial micro-aggressions, and intimidation tactics plague the cast and crew after all. Warner Bros. has an ongoing investigation in place.
DeGeneres and producers have filed the claims and fired three executive producers at the center of some of the more defamatory allegations. But, as more revelations come to light, some say the story is far from over.
Okungbowa posted on his Instagram to address the situation.
Hey Guys,
I hope you all save in these sad times. I got interviews asking me about the Ellen Degeneres Show and I would like to address the time I spent there. I was on-air talent from 2003-2006 and from 2007-2013. While I am grateful for the opportunity it gave me, I have experienced and felt the toxicity of the environment and I stand with my former colleagues in their quest to create a healthier and more inclusive workplace as the show progresses.Tony Okungbowa Instagram
The DJ did not come in specifications, but the short time of the post echoes what many others have said since the rapid reports surfaced.
Vance DeGeneres refutes claims, defends sister
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DeGeneres has since apologized, claiming she was “disappointed to learn” the talk show culture was not the “place of happiness” she wanted, according to Variety.
Rumors swirled that DeGeneres would resign from her hosting duty with talks about taking over James Corden. DeGeneres announced the start in early August, and looked forward to season 18.
Despite employees, Okungbowa and celebrities like Brad Garrett, James woods, and Lea Thompson claiming toxicity, DeGeneres’ brother Vance DeGeneres said the allegations “are all bull * t.”
“If you do not support Ellen, then you do not support me,” Deadline reported via a now deleted Facebook post. Vance DeGeneres addressed everyone who disagreed with not befriending him. “I am sick and tired of my sister being attacked,” he added.
Vance DeGeneres is not the only one coming to his sister’s defense. Portia de Rossi and Kevin Hart both expressed their love and support on their Instagram pages, while others, like Katy Perry, took to Twitter.
Hart’s support comes after the Oscars fired him as host after old homophobic tweets were revived. He said DeGeneres was there to support him and petition on his behalf that the Academy hire him back.
Others close to DeGeneres – Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Oprah, and more – have not spoken about the case.
