'Ellen DeGeneres Show' Producers 'Heartbroken' Over Employees' Struggles, 'Toxic Work Environment' Claims

“Ellen DeGeneres Show” producers have addressed the statements of former employees accusing the work environment of the talk show as being "toxic". The producers expressed their regret over their staffers’ bad experiences.

Following the release of BuzzFeed News’ explosive story, “Ellen” bosses Andy Lassner, Ed Glavin and Mary Connelly sent a statement to Entertainment Tonight in response to the accusations made against them by former and current employees. They said that after almost two decades, thousands of episodes and employment of more than a thousand staff, they have tried to create “an open, safe, and inclusive work environment.”

“We are truly heartbroken and sorry to learn that even one person in our production family has had a negative experience,” the three producers wrote, adding, “It’s not who we are and not who we strive to be, and not the mission Ellen has set for us.”

Lassner, Glavin and Connelly went on to acknowledge that they were in charge of the day-to-day responsibilities of running DeGeneres’ show.

“We take all of this very seriously and we realize, as many in the world are learning, that we need to do better, are committed to do better, and we will do better,” the “Ellen Show” producers added.

This statement comes only a few days after more than 10 people spoke to BuzzFeed News about their harrowing experiences on the set of the highly celebrated show. Some of the staffers, who requested anonymity, were fired after they took leave to either get medical treatment or attend a family member’s funeral.

A former “Ellen Show” employee also narrated how after taking a month’s medical leave to seek help due to a suicide attempt, they returned to work only to find out that their position was being eliminated.

“Some of the producers talk openly in public about addiction and mental health awareness, but they’re the reason there’s a stigma. They definitely don’t practice what they preach with the ‘be kind’ mantra,” the former employees said.

The show’s host, Ellen DeGeneres, has also been riddled with controversies over her alleged rude attitude toward her employees. There were also reports that the show may be getting canceled due to its plummeting ratings, but producers previously clarified that there was no truth to these rumors.