Comedian Adam Carolla has alleged that staff on The Ellen DeGeneres Show were “scared” and that the host is “not a nice person at all.” Speaking on the After Party podcast on Tuesday, Carolla recalled his experience as a guest on the show 13 years ago.
Carolla described a segment producer who repeatedly asked him not to discuss “meat or beef” during his appearance, saying the producer seemed “scared to death.” He also claimed that a writer for the show, who had signed a non-disclosure agreement, described DeGeneres as the “worst person I’ve ever met.”
Comparing the atmosphere to that of Jimmy Kimmel and Jay Leno’s shows, Carolla said staff on those sets were laid back because the hosts were nice. “She’s not a nice person at all,” he said. “Everyone was scared of her, which means she’s mean.”
The allegations echo a 2020 scandal that rocked The Ellen DeGeneres Show, with claims of toxic workplace behaviour, sexual harassment and misconduct by producers. The show ended after its 19th season in 2022.
In her Netflix special For Your Approval in September, DeGeneres addressed the allegations, saying she was “happy not being a boss or a brand” and that “what other people think of me is none of my business.” The Independent has contacted a representative for DeGeneres for comment.
