UPDATED 8/5, 12 p.m. ET: The Ellen DeGeneres Show’s former DJ, Tony Okungbowa, has responded to various requests he’s been receiving for commentary on the host’s problematic workplace. Saying he “would like to address the time I spent there,” DJ Tony wrote: “I was on air talent from 2003-2006 and from 2007 -2013. While I am grateful for the opportunity it afforded me, I did experience and feel 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 moves forward.”
See previous update below.
UPDATED 8/4, 12 p.m. ET: Katy Perry shared two tweets of support for Ellen, countering criticism against the host’s workplace practices by saying she “can’t speak for anyone else’s experience besides my own but I want to acknowledge that I have only ever had positive takeaways from my time with Ellen & on the @theellenshow.”
Perry opted to shout out "the light & continual fight for equality that [Ellen] has brought to the world through her platform for decades." The singer further let people know where she stands by signing off with a “hug” for her “friend.”
See original story below.
Speaking to the Wrap, an ex-producer for the Ellen DeGeneres Show, Hedda Muskat, added to recent reports that working on Ellen's show sucks.
The interview, published Monday, contained a line in which Muskat said she had never been around such a "toxic host."
It comes just a few days after DeGeneres gave an apology for the work culture at her show. That apology was part of a statement, put out on behalf of her and Warner Bros., which was itself a response to a lengthy report from BuzzFeed News that detailed lots of complaints from anonymous former employees.
The Wrap piece writes that Muskat was one of those employees who spoke to BuzzFeed.
“Though not all of the allegations were corroborated, we are disappointed that the primary findings of the investigation indicated some deficiencies related to the show’s day-to-day management,” the statement said. “We have identified several staffing changes, along with appropriate measures to address the issues that have been raised, and are taking the first steps to implement them. Warner Bros. and Ellen DeGeneres are all committed to ensuring a workplace based on respect and inclusion. We are confident this course of action will lead us to the right way forward for the show.”
In her interview with the Wrap, Muskat (who has also worked on The Howie Mandel Show and The Martin Short Show) said that "I had never been around a toxic host." She also said an apology from DeGeneres would make no difference, and that "[Ellen] is who she is," according to Mediaite.
Specifically named in the interview was producer Ed Glavin. Muskat contends that Glavin was a contributor to the negative work environment, and brought up an instance in which he flipped out on an employee to a point where his face got red. She said that after the incident the crew was "stunned" by the blow-up, and that Ellen was "the only one giggling." She then claims Ellen stated, “Well, I guess every production needs their dog.” Muskat said she viewed the incident as a precursor of things to come.
“And from then we knew,” she said. “Ed was going to be the barking dog—her dog. You could just see everybody’s faces go stiff. We’re professionals; we’re adults. We don’t need a dog to get us to do our jobs.”
Glavin has also been accused of sexual harassment and "being handsy with women." The Hollywood Reporter added that he's likely to leave the show.
Muskat was let go from Ellen's program in 2004. Shortly afterward she won an Emmy.
These latest allegations come after actors Brad Garrett and Lea Thompson publicly called out Ellen and said that it's common knowledge that she treats employees poorly.
You can read the whole thing over at the Wrap.
As for those in the host's corner, on Monday, DeGeneres' wife, Portia de Rossi (who you'd probably expect to be in her corner), took to Instagram to give public support. Specifically, de Rossi shared an image saying, "I Stand By Ellen." She paired that with a caption that said "To all our fans....we see you. Thank you for your support. #stopbotattacks."
