Breaking News
Ellen DeGeneres Offers Apology As She and Her Talk Show Remain Under Fire
On Thursday, Ellen DeGeneres served up an apology to former and current staff and crew members of her ever-popular daytime talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
After many complaints were brought to light by former employees of the show about the culture of the work-place behind the scenes, WarnerMedia is now handling its own internal investigation of the show. It all began when BuzzFeed’s widely-circulated piece had former employees’ anonymous accusations of racism, intimidation, unjust termination and an overall toxic work culture, perpetuated by the show’s top producers.
In a memo, DeGeneres expressed that now that the issues were brought to her attention, they are taking steps to ensure to correct them moving forward. While neither she nor Warner Brothers will comment on the fate of specific employees, two sources had revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that executive producer Ed Glavin — one of the show’s three EPs, and the one at the center of many of the more unsavory claims is among those who will be let go
Ellen let everyone associated with the show that she would have delivered this message on-camera on her show, if not for COVID-19, where everyone on the staff and the crew would have been present. What she wrote is below:
DeGeneres shared: “Hey everybody – it’s Ellen. On day one of our show, I told everyone in our first meeting that The Ellen DeGeneres Show would be a place of happiness – no one would ever raise their voice, and everyone would be treated with respect. Obviously, something changed, and I am disappointed to learn that this has not been the case. And for that, I am sorry. Anyone who knows me knows it’s the opposite of what I believe and what I hoped for our show.
I could not have the success I’ve had without all of your contributions. My name is on the show and everything we do and I take responsibility for that. Alongside Warner Bros, we immediately began an internal investigation and we are taking steps, together, to correct the issues. As we’ve grown exponentially, I’ve not been able to stay on top of everything and relied on others to do their jobs as they knew I’d want them done. Clearly some didn’t. That will now change and I’m committed to ensuring this does not happen again.”
I’m also learning that people who work with me and for me are speaking on my behalf and misrepresenting who I am and that has to stop. As someone who was judged and nearly lost everything for just being who I am, I truly understand and have deep compassion for those being looked at differently, or treated unfairly, not equal, or — worse — disregarded. To think that any one of you felt that way is awful to me.
It’s been way too long, but we’re finally having conversations about fairness and justice. We all have to be more mindful about the way our words and actions affect others, and I’m glad the issues at our show were brought to my attention. I promise to do my part in continuing to push myself and everyone around me to learn and grow. It’s important to me and to Warner Bros. that everyone who has something to say can speak up and feels safe doing so.
I am so proud of the work we do and the fun and joy we all help put out in the world. I want everyone at home to love our show and I want everyone who makes it to love working on it. Again, I’m so sorry to anyone who didn’t have that experience. If not for COVID, I’d have done this in person, and I can’t wait to be back on our stage and see you all then. Stay safe and healthy. Love, Ellen”
Meanwhile, Everybody Loves Raymond alum Brad Garrett , who has been a guest on Ellen, claimed on Twitter that DeGeneres bears responsibility for the workplace culture. He tweeted late Thursday night. “Sorry but it comes from the top @TheEllenShow. Know more than one who were treated horribly by her. Common knowledge.”
So, how do view’s Ellen’s message? Do you think the show is about to go under some serious house-cleaning? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
I stopped watching her show years ago. Ellen can be sadistic and cruel in her tv “pranks.” No Thanks!
Ellen Talk Show : 2003-present. mindful of her other endeavor . ED Brand Name business affair. sponsorship(s). she even has her own record label ( eleveneleven ).
Ellen : “You stopped dancing” big indicator that you slowed down. sure age is what it is. you are leaving that up to your “DJ”. what has really dropped you. That oh so tired primetime game show !!!! ?????? huh?
COME ON !!!! you’ve hosted the Oscar, grammy, emmy show. you were svelte AND in the moment with your ELLEN comedy show. 1994-98
it’s time to hang it up… who know’s just how much you own of your Ellen show.. and it’s a money maker? REALLY ? the laughs aren’t their anymore. not at the epic you did
with your wife… develop your philanthropic / LGBTQ stand. what’s with all the money you will ever have
“Thank You” Ellen
I love Portia too
I stopped watching it a few yrs ago. Its mainly a complete waste of time & interviews with celebrities I don’t like. And she always says her show is a family show. Really? There are a lot of sexual innuendos, scantilly clad photos & even Chippendale dancers on the show. No thanks. No children should be watching this & I wouldn’t watch it with my family.
Nasty, nasty woman, such a phony!
Ellen put a sock in it !!! we just know and have known for years you are literally full of shit
I use to like her but if she is going to act like a stupid jerk I want no part of her.oh ya I never did watch her talk show,I find all stupid talk shows to be dull and boring a waste of time.
Despite my reluctance to criticize a trailblazer for human rights (gay specifically), Ellen is a case study in how not to handle fame. When she first came out to the public (on her primetime show and in real life), she served as a role model for many. And she seemed to carry that mantle quite well for many years.
But something seemed to happen along the way, and she devolved into this mean-spirited phony. I personally have never found her to be genuine, which is a big turnoff for me. To me, her talk show doesn’t work because it all seems so forced. In her interviews, she seems awkward and, again, phony. (Three are many talk-show hosts who simply don’t have proper interview skills.) Her foray into game shows comes across as sadistic, not funny.
And this so-called apology for things she claimed she didn’t know were happening is ludicrous. I don’t know how she rebounds from this fiasco.
I think she could rebound, Jamesj75, but I’m not sure she has figured out how or will be able to do so. Her apology may be sincere (I have no particular insight and can’t really judge), but it comes off to me as a little weak; I won’t go as far as you and call it ludicrous, but it definitely falls short.
I say that she could rebound, though, because she still carries around such a tremendous amount of goodwill in the LGBTQ+ community because she was such an important trailblazer. The key will be figuring out how to start from there and build on that as she tries to make amends for what sounds like an incredibly toxic environment–one that, whatever else the truth may be, happened under her watch. (All of that assumes she’s truly not to blame and isn’t the awful person she’s sometimes portrayed as being–and I have no idea what the truth of that is.)
I agree with you about her game show; she wanted to come across as devilishly humorous, I think, but to me she came across as mean. Nobody was forcing the contestants to take part, it’s true, but given that she’s a multimillionaire and they’re (presumably) just ordinary folk, she came off as taking advantage of that monetary disparity for her own amusement and ultimately sort of sadistic. I laughed through one episode (watched at a friend’s house; I wouldn’t have chosen it) and then about 15 minutes of the next one (at same friend’s house), and then I started feeling really uncomfortable with it and was sorry I had laughed. Not a good way to feel. Given some of the genuinely horrible stuff that’s out there passing as humor, her game show is hardly the worst offender, but it’s unpleasant enough to make me not watch it (but to be fair, there’s a lot on TV I just won’t watch, so . . .).
Hey Michael:
Thank you for your reply and further insights. You certainly make some great points, and I admire your altruistic/forgiving stance much more than the tone I chose here.
In all honesty, very few of us know these celebrities. For a variety of reasons, we like some, we don’t like others, all based on our impressions. I’m all for a redemption story, so I will share in your hope that a rebound will happen. Take care, Friend.
Breaking News
Jacob Martinez is ‘Days of Our Lives’ New Javi Hernandez Replacing Al Calderon in the Role
Finally! The casting has been revealed as to just who would be Al Calderon’s successor in the role of Days of our Lives, Javi Hernandez. On Friday, April 30, the long-running soap opera revealed Jacob Martinez is taking on the part and he will first be seen this coming June 30th and then on all-new episodes streaming on Peacock.
As previously reported, the popular Calderon exited the soap opera last year to join the cast of the NBC primetime medical drama, Brilliant Minds as nurse Nico Silva, who in May will air the remainder of their second season. The series has been on the bubble for renewal by the network. His last episodes as Javi will also air this May on DAYS.
Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming, Martinez has been secretly ensconced in all the drama in Salem for quite some time. When viewers see the new Javi in story, we should learn what will happen in Javi’s relationship with Leo Stark played by Emmy winner, Greg Rikaart, plus his continued relationship with his relatives in the Hernandez clan. Currently, when Javi returned to Salem after taking care of his ailing father, and after the bust-up of his marriage to Leo thanks to Dimitri (Peter Porte), he claimed he had moved on with someone else while he was away from Salem.
Photo: JPI
Like Calderon before him, Martinez is a multi-talented actor and singer. Jacob’s resume is impressive having appeared in the musical In Pieces: The Musical at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater and he was hand-picked by Joey Contreras to play the role of Grey. Other credits include: the short film, Memory Swim and the play Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage.
Martinez hails from Norfolk, Nebraska and appeared when he was very young at the Johnny Carson Theatre, and as DAYS fans know, Jacob is now working at the Days of our Lives studios, right where the “Tonight Show” is filled. In addition, Jacob Martinez is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA).
Taking to his Instagram on Thursday, April 30 once the news of his casting was revealed, Martinez, expressed, “Way too many people to thank in one post, so I’ll just say THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART to each and every person who continues to pour into me and encourage me to chase my dreams. I cannot even begin to express how grateful I am. I already feel beyond blessed, supported, and loved. See you all in Salem ⏳”
Jacob Martinez appeared on Friday on the Days of our Lives Instagram account announcing his casting. You can check it out below. Deadline was the first to report the casting switch.
So, excited to learn who is the new Javi Hernandez? Please welcome Jacob Martinez to the role and be on the lookout for his debut on June 30. Comment below.
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This week starts with heartbreaking news. Patrick Muldoon, best known for his roles as the original Austin Reed on Days of Our Lives and later as Richard Hart on Melrose Place, died on Sunday, April 19, at the age of 57. Reports indicate his death was sudden following a heart attack.
Muldoon’s sister, Shana Muldoon-Zappa, told TMZ on Monday more details on her brother’s death, “Patrick went to take a shower Sunday morning after drinking coffee with his girlfriend in their Beverly Hills home. His girlfriend decided to check on him after he was taking too long and found him unconscious on the bathroom floor?” Shana added that paramedics rushed over and tried to revive Patrick, but there was nothing anyone could do.
Soap fans first saw Muldoon as Kate’s (Lauren Koslow) son on DAYS back in 1992, where he quickly became a fan favorite during the on-screen love story between Austin and Carrie Brady (Christie Clarke). Patrick left the series in 1995. He later made comeback for appearances in 2011 and 2012.
Photo: JPI
On Melrose Place, he played bad buy Richard Hart from 1995-1996. Patrick launched his acting career while in college landing the role of Matt in the 1990 sitcom Who’s The Boss? alongside the likes of Judith Light (ex-Karen, OLTL) and Tony Danza. Following his graduation, Patrick nabbed a recurring role as Jeffrey Hunter in Saved By The Bell by 1991.
Throughout his decades long career, Muldoon also starred in several motion and TV series including his leading roile in Starship Troopers (1997). He also had parts in Deadlock (2021), Vanquish (2021), Dakota (2022), Marlowe (2022), and Murder At Hollow Creek (2023).
Photo: JPI
Not only was Patrick an actors, but a producer and a musician and singer. He often made appearances and put out music with his band, The Sleeping Masses. Muldoon was the band’s lead singer and guitar player. Patrick was also a producer of TV and film projects.
At the time of his death, Patrick was also an executive producer on a the movie “Kockroach,” which is currently in production.
Taking to his Instagram, just a few days before his death, Muldoon expressed,“So excited to be a part of this amazing project KOCKROACH directed by Matt Ross starring Chris Hemsworth, Taron Edgerton, Zazzie Beetz And Alec Baldwin. Filming now in Australia,” he captioned his post.
Sadly, on April 24, Muldoon can be seen in his 2025 film Dirty Hands also festuring Denise Richards (ex-B&B, RHOBH), which will be released on digital streaming platforms on VOD.
Muldoon is survived by his partner, Miriam Rothbart; parents, Deanna and Patrick Muldoon Sr.; his sister and brother-in-law, Shana and Ahmet Zappa; and their children, Muldoon’s beloved niece Halo and nephew Arrow Zappa.
Share your remembrances and condolences on the loss of Patrick Muldoon via the comment section, which is followed below by the trailer Dirty Hands due out later this week on digital platforms.
All My Children and Hallmark alum, Jonathan Bennett has been cast in the newly-created role on General Hospital as Joe Fitzpatrick.
Look for Bennett to make his debut on the ABC soap opera next month in May. Bennett is very familiar to daytime fans for his work as JR Chandler on All My Children from 2000-2001. Later, he landed the part of Aaron Samuels in the motion picture, Mean Girls in 2004 starring Lindsay Lohan, which would become his breakout role.
Jonathan would go on to star in seven Hallmark Channel movies and then hosting and producing the network’s reality competition show Finding Mr. Christmas, Bennett has also appeared as a contestant on Season 19 of Dancing with the Stars, plus Celebrity Big Brother in 2019, and he starred on Broadway in Spamalot.
Courtesy/ABC
Frank Valentini, the executive producer of General Hospital shared to Deadline who first reported the casting news, “We’re so excited to have Jonathan joining our cast. He’s a tremendous talent and will be a fantastic addition to ‘GH.’
After the news broke, Bennett took to his Instagram and shared, “There’s a new guy in town…” Meanwhile, the official General Hospital account shared a pic and expressed, “He’s already tired of us telling him his hair looks sexy pushed back. Welcome to the family, Jonathan Bennett.
Bennett is married to Jaymes Vaughan. Back in 2022, they became the first gay couple to appear on the cover of the wedding magazine, The Knot.
So, what do you think of the casting of Jonathan as Joe Fitzpatrick? Is he the new man for Lucas? Share your thoughts via the comment section.
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