Howard Stern has responded forcefully to a hostile work environment lawsuit filed by his former assistant, Leslie Kuhn, which also names his wife, Beth Stern. In a motion submitted on Wednesday, Stern's legal representatives accused Kuhn of attempting to secure a 'staggering hush-money payment' from him and his production company prior to the initiation of the lawsuit, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
Stern Denies All Allegations
The radio personality categorically denies any claims of fostering a hostile work environment, characterizing the legal action as a 'shakedown.' 'We are not going to play this out in public,' stated Stern's attorney, Ilene Farkas. 'The Sterns are entitled to enforce non-disclosure agreements signed by employees who enter their home and their private life, and they have filed a motion to address the lawsuit and the conduct of Ms. Kuhn and her lawyer.'
Kuhn, who filed the suit last month, alleges she was wrongfully terminated and subjected to a hostile work environment. She claims the Sterns presented her with confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements both before and during her dismissal. She is seeking 'costs of this action' and other relief the court deems just, and has filed an amended complaint requesting the 'right to speak freely.'
Motion Labels Lawsuit a 'Shakedown'
In Wednesday's motion, Stern's attorneys described Kuhn's claims as a 'thinly veiled attempted shakedown,' asserting that she 'hatched a plan to extract a staggering hush-money payment' from her former employers. Kuhn has denied demanding $2.5 million in damages, with her attorney telling the Daily Mail that she is not seeking compensatory damages but only wants the NDAs declared void and unenforceable.
The Sterns' filing further alleges that Kuhn 'manufactured a nonexistent dispute and filed this pretextual lawsuit founded on a series of bald-faced lies.' It adds that she 'indisputably signed' the non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements and 'immediately ran to the press to generate negative, utterly false publicity, hoping the Sterns would simply pay her to make her go away.'
The motion emphasizes that Howard and Beth Stern never spoke negatively about Kuhn publicly and that 'the only reason Kuhn's termination has become public is because she and her counsel chose to file this sensationalized lawsuit, announced her termination to the world, and then deliberately fanned media attention.'
'Attempting to cloak herself as a silenced victim, Kuhn pretends she filed this action to protect her reputation and defend herself against accusations defendants made. Nonsense,' the filing continues. 'Kuhn does not and cannot allege that defendants ever disclosed, or even threatened to disclose, any information about her.'
'A plaintiff may not manufacture publicity, claim injury from that publicity, and then demand that the Court rescue her from the consequences of her own self-inflicted harm,' the Sterns' attorneys concluded.
Kuhn's Claims and Legal Demands
According to a court document filed in early April and obtained by the Daily Mail, Kuhn seeks to 'protect her right to speak freely' about her employment and termination. In the new document, she stated that the 'monetary value' of that right was 'no less than $2.5 million.' However, her lawyer clarified that she had to assign a quote of at least $500,000 to the relief she was seeking to get her case in front of the commercial division of the New York County Supreme Court. Importantly, her lawsuit does not demand that Stern actually pay her that sum even if she wins; it merely seeks to establish her right to discuss her time in his employ.
Kuhn's original lawsuit, obtained by the Daily Mail, takes aim at the Sterns, as well as his production companies One Twelve, Inc., and The Howard Stern Production Company, Inc., over allegations that the defendants presented her with fraudulent and unenforceable non-disclosure agreements. According to the legal filing, she was first employed by SiriusXM on The Howard Stern Show as an office manager in September 2022 and became Stern's executive assistant in January 2024.
'At no time was Kuhn's employment as Stern's Executive Assistant ever conditioned on Kuhn entering into an employment contract or non-disclosure/confidentiality agreement with any person or persons, natural or otherwise,' the document states.
In May 2024, Kuhn moved to the couple's Southampton, New York estate at their request to work at the couple's $20 million 'apocalypse bunker.' Kuhn claims Beth Stern then greatly expanded her duties, making her manage mansion staff, including payroll, as well as household operations, such as the star's famed at-home cat rescue and fostering operation.
Per the document, Kuhn's employment was terminated in February 2026, which she claims was due to a 'hostile work environment and enablement of that hostile work environment, immense pressures on the household created by irresponsible and untenable animal rescue and fostering operations occurring on-site, and massively disorganized and questionable business operations and accounting practices.'
Kuhn claims she was accused of 'alleged misconduct' before her termination by One Twelve's Vice President of Finance Mark D. Garten, which she denies. She also claims her termination came after she received a letter in December 2025 from Stern's production company stating that she would be getting a raise to $265,000 and an $80,000 bonus in 2026.
Per the document, Kuhn claims a law firm representing One Twelve presented her with a 'separation agreement' on or about February 26, 2026, which included an NDA. She claims it was made to look like it was signed when she first started working for Stern years prior, which she denies ever doing. Kuhn further claims the NDA was signed before she interviewed for the position and alleges the signature 'is nothing more than her typewritten name in the same font style and size used to identify the parties' names in the recitals of the agreement.' She claims the NDA was 'manufactured by the Defendants in general and Beth Stern in particular.'
Kuhn has asked the court to declare the NDA and Confidentiality Agreement unenforceable so she can discuss her employment and termination 'freely.' The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for the Sterns for comment and has yet to hear back.
Stern's Contract Extension and Future Plans
Last year, Stern announced he had signed a new three-year deal with SiriusXM, ending weeks of speculation about his show's future. 'I am happy to announce that I have figured out a way to have it all... more free time and continuing to be on the radio,' Stern told fans. 'Yes, we are coming back for three years,' he revealed.
The news was met with criticism online, with many claiming Stern is a 'has-been' who should have retired years ago. This marks the third time Stern has extended his contract with SiriusXM, following previous deals in 2010 and 2020—the latter a five-year, $500 million agreement, according to Forbes.
During the announcement, Stern admitted he enjoys having 'free time' despite his enduring passion for radio. 'I need me time. I've never had me time. I've been working my whole life. Never really having a personal life,' Stern explained. 'I thought maybe at this point in my life, I could have some free time. It would be sad, but exciting for me.'
He gave a loose preview of the next three years, with summers off and limited visits to SiriusXM's New York studios. 'I was really torn up,' Stern told fans. 'I still do love being on the radio. I think the show is better than ever.'
Stern joined what was then Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. in 2006 and became one of the highest-paid personalities in broadcasting. At its height, The Howard Stern Show reached 60 markets and drew over 20 million listeners.
Rumors about Stern's future with SiriusXM erupted in August 2025 and flared again when he postponed his September return after his summer break. A source told the Daily Mail at the time that the delay was due to Stern's 'frustrations over the new contract' with the audio company. Another insider added in August that Stern 'may do a 1-2 year contract if they can meet him where he wants financially. He doesn't want to pull the plug on his employees like this.'
A separate source said the star 'would likely sell his catalogue of shows to replay' on the uncensored channels Howard 100 and Howard 101 if he didn't renew his contract with SiriusXM. He then went on to do a prank segment with TV personality Andy Cohen in September, who was hosting the program at the time.
'I know you're expecting a big announcement from Howard and this is not how things were meant to go. This was supposed to be a cleaner hand off. I'm kind of winging it,' Cohen said. He also claimed that the show would be called Andy 100 moving forward and added he 'can't possibly fill his void.' But just 20 minutes later, Stern came onto the air to reveal that it had simply been a prank and explained he postponed his return due to illness rather than contract negotiations.
During the episode, he explained, 'I was just getting so f****** annoyed with everyone writing me, asking me if I was okay because I'd been fired.' 'None of it is true, zero truth,' Stern then said, referring to claims that he had been axed. 'What pisses me off is that now I can't leave. I've been thinking about retiring. Now I can't.'
