Ellen Producers FIRED!

Aaaaaaaand looks like the axe is coming down!

BuzzFeed News reported on Monday that executive producers Ed Glavin and Kevin Leman and co-executive producer Jonathan Norman have been fired from The Ellen Degeneres Show amid accusations of a toxic work environment!

News was reportedly relayed to staff in a video conference by Ellen Degeneres herself, who also announced that an “internal investigation into the workplace allegations” would take place in the near future.

According to an employee who was in the meeting, the remaining EPs promised Ellen “will be making rounds to smaller chats” with employees going forward, presumably to make sure they’re comfortable. But… isn’t Ellen one of the alleged sources of the toxicity? Hmm…

The staff was also told the higher-ups are committed to eliminating the “culture of fear” the show has become and claimed they were “shocked” to hear allegations that employees weren’t allowed to look directly at Ellen. We mean, it wasn’t just the employees if Aussie radio host Neil Breen story of interviewing the daytime host is to be believed.

And can you really be “shocked” about something that was considered an open secret in Hollywood?? Staff were also assured they would have a direct line to HR, but who does HR report to? Back to Ellen??

BuzzFeed also obtained an email from David McGuire, executive vice president of programming at Warner Bros., which read:

“We promised you change and a new culture, and we are absolutely committed to that. Many of you have spoken with WarnerMedia’s investigators, and we thank you for your honesty. And though the investigation is nearing its conclusion, our willingness to confidentially hear your thoughts is ongoing. … We heard loud and clear that communication needs to be better, at every level. The EPs are already taking steps to make our communication more frequent and effective. I hope this note is another way we are showing our commitment to do better.”

Further, while the three former EPs are packing up their desks, Variety has learned that Stephen “tWitch” Boss has been promoted to co-executive producer of the long-running talk show following his defense of the comedienne. Degeneres apparently expressed a desire to come back to air with a “renewed commitment to diversity,” which the DJ has “already been helpful” in creating. A source said the promotion will give Boss “more influence in both programming and the working culture.”

This shakeup is certainly a good start assuming some of the worst allegations are true, and we truly hope it leads to actual change within this supposedly toxic workplace. But if it really does come “from the top” as some who know Ellen have stated, can this really fix everything??

[Image via Ellen/YouTube/Twitter/Facebook.]