The Ellen DeGeneres Show is all set to face an internal probe by WarnerMedia, its parent company. They are acting on the complaint after some employees came forward with numerous accounts of work-place problems. According to Variety, Warner Media’s employees’ relation group has teamed up with a third-party organisation to interview the show’s former and current employees.
Recently, in mid-July, Buzzfeed wrote an article alleging racism on the show. The article contained a spectrum of racist behaviours, from microaggressions to jokes on two Black female employees.
According to reports by Variety, executive producers Ed Glavin, Mary Connelly and Andy Lassner made a joint statement to Buzzfeed, saying—
Over the course of nearly two decades, 3,000 episodes, and employing over 1,000 staff members, we have strived to create an open, safe, and inclusive work environment. We are truly heartbroken and sorry to learn that even one person in our production family has had a negative experience. It’s not who we are and not who we strive to be, and not the mission Ellen has set for us.
They further added—
For the record, the day to day responsibility of the Ellen show is completely on us. We take all of this very seriously and we realise, as many in the world are learning, that we need to do better, are committed to do better, and we will do better.
The daytime celebrity talk show made its debut in 2003 and is currently in its seventeenth season. So far, the Ellen DeGeneres Show has won 61 Emmy awards.