Making a change. Ellen DeGeneres addressed her producers and the staff of The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Monday, August 17, promised that changes were coming.
After revealing that the producers accused of sexual misconduct — Ed Glavin, Jonathan Norman and Kevin Leman — had all exited the show, the 62-year-old host vowed to do better.
“She said she’s not on set as much as everyone else, and she didn’t know what was going on,” an insider told Us Weekly exclusively on Monday. “Ellen said she was ashamed and embarrassed to hear about it and assured them it would not continue.”
The source also said that it seemed that the comedian “realizes she has to be more involved” with the show going forward after the reports. “Everyone on the call was glad to hear from her,” the source added. “She said if you heard anything about the show not coming back that’s not true.”
The Ellen DeGeneres Show came under fire last month after former employees alleged they had faced racism, fear and intimidation on set. The Finding Dory actress addressed her employees in a memo following the report, promising to do better.
“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,” she wrote in the note obtained by Us on July 30. “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.”
In a second report that came out after her note, 36 former staffers accused the now-ousted producers of sexual misconduct. (They denied the claims, but Warner Bros. confirmed on Monday they had parted ways with the talk show.)
Producers Mary Connelly and Andy Lassner will remain on the show and resident DJ Stephen “tWitch” Boss has been promoted to EP, according to Variety.
During Monday’s call, the Home author “really boosted morale” with the staff, the insider told Us. “She opened up and was being real. [She] admitted to being multilayered and said she has good days and bad days. She said people on the call would know that she has not asked people not to look her in the eyes on set.”
The Los Angeles native also told those who work for on the show not to be afraid to address her, encouraging them to say hello when they see her.
