Katy Perry defends Ellen DeGeneres amidst claims of toxic workplace culture at The Ellen Show

'I have only ever had positive takeaways from my time with Ellen'
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Megan C. Hills4 August 2020

Singer Katy Perry has spoken out in defense of Ellen DeGeneres, who is currently at the centre of controversy following allegations of toxic workplace culture at her daytime talk show. Following an internal investigation at The Ellen DeGeneres Show and an apology from DeGeneres to her staff, Perry tweeted today that she “only ever had positive takeaways from my time with Ellen.”

DeGeneres was the subject of a viral Twitter thread last month when a number of users claimed they had negative experiences with the host and actor Brad Garrett claimed he knew “more than one who were treated horribly by her.”

Perry tweeted, “I know I can’t speak for anyone else’s experience besides my own but I want to acknowledge that I have only ever had positive takeaways from my time with Ellen & on the @theellenshow.”

“I think we all have witnessed the light & continual fight for equality that she has brought to the world through her platform for decades. Sending you love & a hug, friend @TheEllenShow,” she finished.

Previously, staff at The Ellen Show claimed that executive producers had subjected them to racial microaggressions, racist comments, the reported firing of staff following medical and bereavement leave (one following a suicide attempt) as well as the treatment of the show during the coronavirus pandemic.

It was announced earlier this week that an internal investigation into the show’s workplace was underway, with numerous current and former staffers being interviewed. DeGeneres also issued a statement to staff, obtained by Variety, in which she said she was “disappointed to learn” that the show was no longer a “place of happiness.”

Executive producer Ed Glavin is ‘set to exit his role immediately’ and a Warner Bros spokesperson said they had “identified several staffing changes, along with appropriate measures to address the issues that have been raised.”

Further allegations about sexual misconduct at the show by executive producers have also surfaced in a report by Buzzfeed. Head writer and executive producer Kevin Leman said in response, “I have always aimed to treat everyone on the staff with kindness, inclusivity and respect. In my whole time on the show, to my knowledge, I’ve never had a single HR or inter-personal complaint made about me, and I am devastated beyond belief that this kind of malicious and misleading article could be published.”

(Getty Images)

Another executive producer, named Jonathan Norman, responded, “I have never done anything to harm another staff member. Ever. The person I believe you are referring to has ulterior motives for bringing down the show and has been acting with malice towards the show."

While DeGeneres did not address the viral Twitter thread or specific claims about her, she called for people to stop “misrepresenting who I am.” She said, “I’m also learning that people who work with me and for me are speaking on my behalf and misrepresenting who I am and that has to stop.”

DeGeneres, who received backlash when she came out as a lesbian in 1997, continued, “As someone who was judged and nearly lost everything for just being who I am, I truly understand and have deep compassion for those being looked at differently, or treated unfairly, not equal, or – worse – disregarded. To think that any one of you felt that way is awful to me.”

Other stars have come to DeGeneres’ defense, including her wife Portia de Rossi. Yesterday, de Rossi shared a picture that read ‘I Stand By Ellen’ alongside the show’s motto “Be Kind To One Another.”

Hashtagging the post #stopbotattacks, #IStandWithEllenDeGeneres, #IStandByEllen and ‪#IstandByEllenDeGeneres, she wrote, “To all our fans....we see you. Thank you for your support.”

Nacho Figueras, a polo player and close friend of Prince Harry’s, said DeGeneres was a “wonderful human being” on Instagram. He said, “I have been patiently waiting for someone with more authority than me to speak up about what a great human being @theellenshow is.”

“I stand for you my friend and I challenge all the amazing people that know you and call you a friend to say who you are. The world has become a very dangerous place because it seems that we cannot make anything right. If I am going to be criticized for defending someone that I think deserves to be defended then so be it,” he continued.

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