Three producers leave 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' amid investigation over 'toxic' work culture

The show has been plagued with allegations of a discriminatory and abusive working environment in recent weeks

FILE PHOTO: 77th Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals - Beverly Hills, California, U.S., January 5, 2020 - Ellen DeGeneres. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo

Three producers have left The Ellen DeGeneres Show amid allegations of a toxic and dysfunctional workplace.

Executive producers Ed Glavin and Kevin Leman and co-executive producer Jonathan Norman have "parted ways" with the long-running daytime series, a spokesperson for producer Warner Bros said in a statement on Monday.

It comes as the company launched an internal investigation of claims about the show, prompted by a BuzzFeed News report in July, which featured interviews from 36 ex-staffers, who complained about or said they witnessed improper and unfair treatment including allegations of sexual misconduct and racially insensitive remarks.

One claim alleged that an unnamed writer on the show told a black employee: “I’m sorry, I only know the names of the white people who work here."

Most of the allegations were tied to executive producers and senior managers, including Glavin, Leman and Norman, the report said. The people making the claims against them were not identified.

The long-running chat show has been plagued with allegations of a toxic culture in recent weeks. Reuters

A representative for Leman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday. Representatives for Glavin and Norman couldn't immediately be found.

In statements to BuzzFeed News following the report in July, Leman denied "any kind of sexual impropriety" and Norman said he categorically denied the accusations.

DeGeneres is said to have informed staff of the shake-up on Monday in a video conference call. She said she found claims about the show's environment to be "heartbreaking", Variety reports.

The comedienne and host had sent a memo to her staff after last month's article, recalling her early promise of ensuring a workplace where “everyone would be treated with respect". Something changed, she said, “and for that, I am sorry".

The show debuted in 2003.

In a separate July statement, Warner Bros said parent company WarnerMedia's investigation revealed what it called "some flaws in the show's daily management".

Although not all of the allegations were corroborated, the studio said it was “disappointed that the primary findings of the investigation indicated some deficiencies related to the show’s day-to-day management".

Warner Bros had no further comment on Monday beyond confirming the producers' departures.