It’s hard to imagine anything in 2020 will be the “best ever,” but Ellen DeGeneres wants the 18th season of The Ellen Show to meet the mark. Or at least that’s what she told the show’s remaining staff after breaking the news that three senior producers had been fired amid endless allegations of a toxic workplace.
Executive producers Ed Galvin and Kevin Leman, and co-executive producer Jonathan Norman were let go after the show launched an internal investigation.
Ellen broke the news to the rest of the staff during a videoconference on Monday, with Variety reporting she “was emotional to the point of tears, and apologetic as she addressed more than 200 staffers.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the host said:
I’m so so sorry for what this has become.
I’m a multi-layered person, and I try to be the best person I can be and try to learn from my mistakes.
I care about each and every one of you. I am grateful for each and every one of you. I feel like I’ve kind of let the ball drop a bit because I’m focused on the show, I go in and I do the show, and I’ve just let everybody to do their jobs – to run different departments.
And it just became a well-oiled machine, and I think that is the problem. It’s not a machine. This is people. These are human beings that are working hard every single day to put this together. This show would not be what it is without all of you.
Leman’s attorney, Michael Plonsker, put out a statement about the shakeup:
The fact that a deeply flawed BuzzFeed article has led to the termination of an innocent man – a popular figure and a creative force behind the Ellen show and a string of other projects produced with Ellen – is shocking. Kevin is devastated by being scapegoated and is not yet ready to comment.
The firings come a few weeks after Ellen wrote a letter to the crew apologizing for no longer fostering “a place of happiness” and vowing to make changes. “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.”
On the Monday call, DeGeneres vowed to “come back strong” when season 18 premieres this September, saying it will be “the best season we’ve ever had.”
Smith David
Ellen, baby! A few checks with several zeros at the end of them would’ve served your staff better than this sobbing mess. Girl bye!
funpitt412
They are coming for you Ellen. You are now a victim of Cancel Culture! It is so fun to watch the liberals turn on their own.
Cam
The same account that says bigots and racists are victims doesn’t like it when people that mistreat employees are called out apparently.
HDTex
You’re white, honey. Nobody cares.
Cam
It’s cute how the white, right wing toll account keeps trying to make racial comments HOPING people will think it’s an account run by a racial minority.
Sorry, you may as well stop stealing this accounts screename and move on. The troll posts are obvious.
outdoorturtle
Bitch please ya’ll racist as hell for saying that it don’t matter if she white what matters is your ignorance serious BTFU and so a reality check we all know she losing the game but to make a point of saying you‘re white no one cares you just stepped into the nasty racist heels Dorothy please ask the wicked witch to give you her broom so you can fly the fck off the planet
HDTex
@Idiots: you’re missing the point. She’s white, therefore you don’t give a crap about her, we get it. If she weren’t, you’d be screaming she mattered and there was no proof. We also get that. Dual standards for dem evil white folks.
Put your crap concern trolling commentary in your own little hats and smoke it.
Cam
“Ellen broke the news to the rest of the staff during a videoconference on Monday, with Variety reporting she “was emotional to the point of tears, and apologetic as she addressed more than 200 staffers.””
In other words, Ellen’s P.R. team sent a release to Variety claiming Ellen was emotional. Bullys always are sorry after they get caught.
funpitt412
CAM (Karen), Why are you scared to state which city you live in today?
Cam
@funpitt412
Sweeetie, you’ve used that description of my screename now under FOUR different screenames this month. If you were trying to expose the multiple accounts you use to troll….nice job.
Jack
If you were really taking responsibility, you would have worked with your leadership team not scapegoated them. You set the tone. Don’t act like you were oblivious. If you treated people badly, firing those people to divert blame is going to blow up in your face, honey. Cancel culture is rough….but most of the time it’s Karma culture.
jackscott
Leadership starts at the top, move aside Ellen!
Onecaddy13
Too little, and much too late, The phony crocodile tears and Variety’s advanced notice didn’t sway me one bit but, pissed me off even more. Again, her apology was not from the heart, and agree with many, it was PR related. Time to move on, Ellen is yesterday’s news. Also, as I stated before, I quit her two years ago and this will be my last Ellen post ever. DONE!!
Terrycloth
Fire the entire staff & camera crew. When you’re the problem nothing changes..give Kelly Clarkson her time slot. Ellen’s ratings are in the toilet..no sponsor wants to run ads on a failing . drowning show
jdr11201
Must we,
I don’t want her on, so tired of her. Like so many others it time to say adios.