Ellen DeGeneres Apologizes over Allegations of Toxic Work Environment on her Show

LOS ANGELES – Ellen DeGeneres returned to her daytime talk show “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” this week with an apology after staffers this summer shared their stories of racism, sexual assault, and a toxic environment on set.

DeGeneres opened up season 18 of her show in a lengthy apology while addressing the claims to a virtual audience.

She said: “As you may have heard, this summer there were allegations of a toxic environment here at our show. And then there was an investigation. I learned that things happened here that never should have happened. I take that very seriously and I want to say I’m so sorry to the people who were affected. I am a boss of 270 people, 270 people who help make this show what it is… All I want is for every single one of them to be happy and to be proud to work here.”

She added that she was “committed to making this the best season that we’ve ever had.”

“I started saying ‘be kind to one another’ after after a young man named Tyler Clementi took his own life after being bullied for being gay. I thought the world needed more kindness, and it was a reminder that we all needed that. I think we need it more than ever right now. The truth is, I am that person you see on TV — I’m also a lot of other things. Sometimes I get sad, I get mad, I get anxious, I get frustrated, I get impatient. And I am working on all of that.”