Kelly Clarkson addresses recent allegations of a toxic work environment behind the scenes of her daytime talk show.
The Kelly Clarkson Show host took to Instagram on Friday night and wrote, “In my 20 years in the entertainment industry I have always led with my heart and what I thought was right. I like my team The Kelly Clarkson Showand to find out that someone feels unheard and/or disrespected on this show is unacceptable.
Her response comes after one Rolling stone report, which was published Friday, claims the show’s producers have “overworked” and “underpaid” behind-the-scenes employees. Employees also claimed that working on the daytime talk show was traumatizing for their mental health.
The complaints came from a current and 10 former employees who spoke to the magazine anonymously. A former collaborator said: “I remember going on the roof of the stage crying and thinking, ‘Oh my God, what am I doing? Why am I putting myself through this?’”
Another former staff member specifically said, “I think Alex Duda (Executive Producer) is a monster. I have a friend who is an executive producer who warned me about taking this job because apparently she’s done this on every show she’s worked on.
Employees did say that Clarkson was “fantastic” and that they would be “shocked if she knew” what was going on. Another employee added that the host “has no idea how unhappy her staff are.”
Clarkson’s statement continued: “I have always been and will continue to be committed to creating and maintaining a safe and healthy environment in The Kelly Clarkson Show. As we prepare for a move to the East Coast, I’m more committed than ever to ensuring that not only our team moving, but also our new team in New York, is made up of the best and friendliest in the business .
“Part of that build includes leadership training for all senior staff, including myself,” the statement read. “There is always room to grow and make sure we are all the best versions of ourselves in every company. Especially when it comes to leadership, to ensure that any notion of toxicity is eradicated.
