August 01, 2020

Film & TV

Ellen’s ex-staff was harassed and groped by bosses ‘behind the scenes’

A number of ex-staff members have come forward claiming that they were groped and kissed ‘behind the scenes’ at work

By Melanie Aiden August 01, 2020

The Ellen DeGeneres Show has been hit with yet another complaint of abuse by numerous ex-junior-staffers who faced sexual abuse at the hands of show runners and other higher ups.

According to new report gathered by The Daily Mail, a number of former employees have come forward and agreed to recount harrowing experiences of sexual abuse during their time on the show.

rom alleged groping, to kissing and even solicitation of oral sex, ex-employees claim a number of inappropriate advances were made onto them.

A former worker who wished to remain anonymous was quoted saying, “For someone who’s so involved in the show and the creative aspect, and having been in those meetings with her, it’s very hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that she doesn’t hear the same whispers. Unless she really is just in this bubble” that is.

The ex-staffer went on to say that one such experience occurred during a company party back in 2013. It was there that the show’s lead head writer and executive producer Kevin Leman solicited oral sex from the worker.

Other employees also witnessed Kevin’s horrid antics during the trip and witnessed him kissing and groping assistants, while on one occasion he was also caught grabbing a production assistant’s genitalia. Although “It’s masked in sarcasm, but it’s not sarcasm” a worker commented.

Another ex-worker also claimed that those in junior positions felt very powerless and were unable to lodge complaints against any of them. They told BuzzFeed, “He’d probably do it in front of 10 people and they’d laugh because ‘It’s just Kevin being Kevin,’ but if you’re in a position of power at a company, you don’t just get to touch me like that.”

Other executive producers have also come under fire, according to the reports, including Ed Glavin and co-executive producer Jonathan Norman.

Many junior staffers claim they were pressured into not reporting misconduct to human resources by these men because ”There was no such thing as a confidential conversation.”

“There was no clear direction that if something happens to you, you go to this person, it will remain confidential, and you will not be retaliated against.”

Many even bashed Warner Bros for “turning a blind eye” towards all that was going on just because the show “is a cash cow” racking in millions per episode.