TV Executive Reveals His 2013 Experience with Ellen DeGeneres Amid All the Toxic Work Culture Rumors
29 July 2020
'Don't look at her, talk to her or approach her': Australian TV executive reveals bizarre demands from Ellen DeGeneres' 'terrified' staff - as her show faces an investigation into 'toxic, bullying' workplace
He added that Ellen's people dictated everything - from seating, to lighting, to how the interview would work - adding that he found the whole situation 'bizarre'.
He spoke out as the 62-year-old American chat show host, whose philosophy is 'be kind', faces an investigation over allegations of racism, bullying and a 'toxic environment' behind the scenes of her show.
Ellen was initially supposed to co-host the Today show during her tour of Australia seven years ago, but the plan was continually changed and watered down by her team.
Eventually, it was agreed that Ellen would do a sit-down interview with entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins in Melbourne - meaning production had to be moved there from Sydney at the show's expense, Breen said.
'The producer called us aside and said, "Now Neil, no one is to talk to Ellen. You don't talk to her, you don't approach her, you don't look at her,"' he said.
'"She'll come in, she'll sit down, she'll talk to Richard and then Ellen will leave." And I sort of said, "Are you fair dinkum? I can't look at her?" I found the whole thing bizarre,' he added.
We're there to do an interview to promote what she's doing, but you can't look at her? Someone get real.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-8574301/TV-executive-reveals-bizarre-demands-Ellen-DeGeneres-terrified-staff.html