The past few months have not been great for The Ellen DeGeneres Show and its host, Ellen DeGeneres. Allegation after allegation of abuse has been leveled on the show and the host, leading to investigations and resignations. As the new season of the show nears its premiere, DeGeneres vows to address the past few months.
The Hollywood Reporter said that DeGeneres put out a statement regarding the upcoming premiere of the 18th season of the show. Not only did DeGeneres express her happiness at going back to the studio and working again, she only promised that the numerous allegations levied against her and the show will be addressed.
The allegations were brought to light by a Buzzfeed report, which detailed incidents of racism, sexual harassment, and the denial of leaves of staff members who intended to use it for their mental health or to attend funerals.
Because of the report, WarnerMedia ended up conducting an investigation on the show, resulting in the removal of three senior producers and the introduction of new perks to the staffers of the show.
It also resulted in a bit of soul-searching for the show’s production team. Andy Lassner, one of the show’s executive producers, revealed in an Instagram video that the past few months have been “rough” for the team.
Lassner says that despite that, he has taken the past few months as a chance to grow and learn more about himself. The producer also took the video as an opportunity to assure his followers that he has always been honest to them.
Aside from addressing the allegations against the show, CNN reports that the show will also feature Tiffany Haddish as the inaugural guest for the new season. Other guests lined up for the new season of The Ellen DeGeneres Show include Chrissy Teigen, Alec Baldwin, and Kerry Washington.
The show’s newest co-executive producer, Stephen “tWitch” Boss, will also be acting as a guest-host for a number of episodes.
DeGeneres isn’t the only personality that has been the subject of abuse allegations over the past few months. Film director Joss Whedon, actress Lea Michele, and former showrunner Peter Lenkov have also been called out for abusive behavior.
Justice League actor Ray Fisher claimed that Whedon was unprofessional, abusive, and gross on the set of the movie. Warner Bros. is now looking into Fisher’s claims.
Meanwhile, Lenkov was accused by MacGyver star Lucas Till of body-shaming, verbal abuse, and bullying. The abuse was, allegedly, so severe that Till was almost driven to suicide.
Michele’s former Glee co-star Samantha Ware was the one to call her out, claiming that the actress made her time on set “a living hell.”