Weeks after the first misbehavior allegations first came out, The Ellen DeGeneres Show has had to suffer through an internal investigation as well as a number of other changes to respond to the ensuing scandal. However, new allegations are surfacing that may undermine the positive changes made.
Buzzfeed reports that despite the findings of the recently concluded WarnerMedia internal investigation that there was nothing “systemic” about the abuse that happened on the set of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, executives already knew of what was happening as far back as 2018.
According to the report, two employees had already filed a complaint about sexism and gender discrimination happening on the show two years ago. However, nothing was done about the complaint.
The Ellen DeGeneres Show distributor, Warner Bros., told Buzzfeed that they were aware of the complaint that had been made back in 2018 but said that a third-party investigation already found those claims to have no merit. The production described the claims as “nothing new or noteworthy.”
Forbes notes that this previous inaction on the part of the production has left employees of The Ellen DeGeneres Show skeptical of the changes that have been made to supposedly better the show. Some staffers see the changes as merely a publicity stunt rather than an attempt to change how things are run.
Some of the changes made by the show include the firing of three senior producers: Ed Glavin, Kevin Leman, and Jonathan Norman. The three are the names mentioned in the earlier Buzzfeed report that eventually triggered the WarnerMedia investigation.
The current allegations have also resulted in staffers of the show getting more perks. In an effort to change the environment on the show, staffers of The Ellen DeGeneres Show will now get paid time off for medical appointments and family matters. An additional five days of paid time have also been added to the leaves they currently have.
Before the perks were revealed, both DeGeneres and producers of the show have claimed responsibility for the toxicity in their workplace and promised to do better moving forward.
The Ellen DeGeneres Show is just one of the productions that have been rocked by allegations of toxicity. Lucas Till, star of MacGyver, accused the show former showrunner Peter Lenkov of body-shaming and bullying that was severe enough to make him consider suicide.
Joss Whedon has also been accused by actor Ray Fisher of being gross, abusive, and unprofessional on the set of Justice League. WarnerMedia has confirmed that they are also conducting an internal investigation to look into Fisher’s allegations.