‘Ellen’ producer dismisses show cancelation rumor, as celebrities weigh in: 'Nobody is going off the air'

Ellen DeGeneres’s award-winning talk show will not be canceled following workplace toxicity allegations, her executive producer confirmed on Twitter.

“Nobody is going off the air,” Andy Lassner tweeted this week to a user who responded to his pandemic meme by writing, “I seriously wish you well. If the Ellen show goes off the air due to all these allegations (I, personally, have stopped watching) I hope you are able to find employment quickly...”

This month, BuzzFeed published two bombshell reports alleging workplace sexual harassment and racism and intimidation from former employees who spoke anonymously. In the first, one current and 10 ex-employees dispelled DeGeneres’s “be kind” motto, with a Black employee claiming she endured racist “micro-aggressions” over her box braids hairstyle, while another said she was ostracized for asking producers to stop saying “spirit animal.” One said they were fired after taking time off for medical leave and to attend funerals.

Lassner and fellow producers Ed Glavin and Mary Connelly told BuzzFeed in part, "We are truly heartbroken and sorry to learn that even one person in our production family has had a negative experience.”

The second story claimed that several top producers “engaged in rampant sexual misconduct and harassment,” naming Kevin Leman as soliciting sex from an ex-employee at a company party in 2013, groping a production assistant’s genitals and making sexually explicit comments “masked in sarcasm.” Leman denied the allegations, telling BuzzFeed, “I am devastated beyond belief that this kind of malicious and misleading article could be published." Employees also alleged that producer Glavin “had a reputation for being handsy with women.” Glavin did not respond to BuzzFeed’s request for comment.

On Thursday, DeGeneres wrote a general apology to her staff in a letter obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. “On day one of our show, I told everyone in our first meeting that The Ellen DeGeneres Show would be a place of happiness — no one would ever raise their voice, and everyone would be treated with respect,” she wrote. “Obviously, something changed, and I am disappointed to learn that this has not been the case. And for that, I am sorry. Anyone who knows me knows it's the opposite of what I believe and what I hoped for our show.”

“I could not have the success I've had without all of your contributions. My name is on the show and everything we do and I take responsibility for that,” she added. “Alongside Warner Bros, we immediately began an internal investigation and we are taking steps, together, to correct the issues. As we've grown exponentially, I've not been able to stay on top of everything and relied on others to do their jobs as they knew I'd want them done. Clearly some didn't. That will now change and I'm committed to ensuring this does not happen again.”

DeGeneres wrote, “I'm also learning that people who work with me and for me are speaking on my behalf and misrepresenting who I am and that has to stop. As someone who was judged and nearly lost everything for just being who I am, I truly understand and have deep compassion for those being looked at differently, or treated unfairly, not equal, or — worse — disregarded. To think that any one of you felt that way is awful to me.” The 62-year-old promised to learn from the experience and ensure that her employees feel safe speaking up.

According to Variety, studio Warner Bros. launched an investigation into multiple allegations. In April, the outlet reported that crew members were being treated poorly during the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, celebrities are starting to speak up — on Friday, talent manager Scooter Braun, whose clients include Justin Bieber, came to DeGeneres’s defense. “People love to take shots at people,” he tweeted. “They love to see people fall. How quickly so many forget. @TheEllenShow is a kind, thoughtful, courageous human being who stands for what is right and highlights on her show the best of us. She has helped change the views for equality.”

“Needed to say this as I know first hand how she helps so many when we are watching and when we are not,” Braun tweeted separately. “She isn’t about what is popular she is about what is right. Sending love to Ellen today.”

The day before, Everybody Loves Raymond star Brad Garrett retweeted a Variety story about DeGeneres’s apology writing, “Sorry but it comes from the top.” He added, “Know more than one who were treated horribly by her.⁩ Common knowledge.” Back to the Future actress Lea Thompson retweeted a similar People story writing, “True story. It is.”

Trouble started brewing in March when a viral Twitter thread by comedian Kevin T. Porter called DeGeneres “notoriously one of the meanest people alive” and solicited horror stories about the daytime host. And this week, radio host Neil Breen alleged that in 2013, while an executive producer for Australia’s Today, DeGeneres, who was a guest on the show, said, “No one is to talk to Ellen. You don't talk to her, you don't approach her, you don't look at her.”

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