The Ellen DeGeneres Show has been at the center of controversy over the summer following allegations of misconduct and a toxic work environment on the set of the hit show. Now, a few weeks after three senior producers were accused of misconduct, Ellen has fired them, marking an overhaul of the production team as the show moves forward.
Executive producers Ed Glavin, Kevin Leman, and co-exective producer Jonathan Norman have been terminated from their jobs at The Ellen DeGeneres Show, according to Variety, which notes that executive producers Mary Connelly, Andy Lassner, and Derek Westervelt (all of whom have been at the show since its launch in 2003) will remain on board. Ellen DeGeneres herself reportedly broke the news to members of the Ellen staff during a video conference call.
The firings, while notable in light of the allegations and the defenses of Ellen DeGeneres since the complaints began coming to light in July, are not altogether surprising. Ed Glavin, Kevin Leman, and Jonathan Norman had already been suspended from The Ellen DeGeneres Show following a report on July 30 that named them at the center of misconduct, harassment, and racism claims.
The late July report on the allegations against producers at The Ellen DeGeneres Show cited the claims of 36 former employees of the show who independently corroborated reports of harassment, misconduct, and assault from top executives. Although the former employees chose to make their claims anonymously in fear of retribution in the industry, the allegations was enough for significant changes to happen at the show.
An investigation into the complaints had already begun just days before the bombshell report, and Ellen DeGeneres committed to change in a letter addressed to her staff. DeGeneres openly stated that she had "not been able to stay on top of everything," and therefore "relied on others to do their jobs" as she intended, while "clearly some didn't." DeGeneres was reportedly emotional as she shared the news of Kevin Leman, Ed Glavin, and Jonathan Norman's firings.
Kevin Leman and Ed Glavin are both credited as producers on Ellen's Game of Games as well as other Ellen DeGeneres projects, and they have reportedly been removed from those as well. Warner Bros., which produces The Ellen DeGeneres Show, confirmed that Leman, Glavin, and Jonathan Norman have. "parted ways" with Ellen.
While the show and Ellen DeGeneres have been criticized in the weeks since the allegations began surfacing, it was not expected that Ellen would be cancelled or DeGeneres would be out. The allegations of misconduct were centered on the staff and producers at Ellen, with DeGeneres herself not accused by name of the same mistreatment.
Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more developments in what is unfolding at The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and be sure to check out our 2020 summer TV premiere schedule and our 2020 fall TV premiere guide for some upcoming viewing options.
