Several employees at The Kelly Clarkson Show are speaking out about work conditions that they've described as toxic and traumatizing.
Rolling Stone has published accounts of various ways employees have allegedly been mistreated. Many of the employees have worked in the entertainment industry for several years, and they've expressed their frustration that the show is functioning in this way.
One current and 10 former employees of the show all spoke anonymously to the outlet. A former employee told Rolling Stone, "NBC is protecting the show because it’s their new money maker, but Kelly has no clue how unhappy her staff is."
Another former employee told the magazine that the show has impacted their mental health in a major way. As they put it, "I remember going up on the roof of the stage to cry, being like, ‘Oh, my gosh, what am I doing? Why am I putting myself through this?’"
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Several people interviewed cited showrunner and producer Alex Duda as a major source of the problems. One former employee explained, "I think Alex Duda’s a monster. I have a friend who’s an executive producer who warned me about taking this job, because apparently she has done this on every show she’s worked on."
Everyone involved also believes Kelly has no idea what's going on at her own show, including the fact that many people who work for her have had to take second jobs to make ends meet.
One former employee said, "Kelly is fantastic. She is a person who never treats anyone with anything but dignity and is incredibly appreciative. I would be shocked if she knew. I’d be floored if she knew the staff wasn’t getting paid for two weeks of Christmas hiatus. The Kelly that I interacted with and that everyone knows would probably be pretty aghast to learn that."
A representative for NBCUniversal has issued a statement about the allegations. It reads: "We are committed to a safe and respectful work environment and take workplace complaints very seriously and to insinuate otherwise is untrue."
The statement continues: "When issues are reported they are promptly reviewed, investigated and acted upon as appropriate. The Kelly Clarkson Show strives to build a safe, respectful and equitable workplace that nurtures a culture of inclusivity and creativity."
Kelly also issued her own statement via Instagram. She wrote: "To find out that anyone is feeling unheard and or disrespected on this show is unacceptable. As we prepare for a move to the East Coast, I am more committed than ever to ensuring that not only our team is moving, but also our new team in NY is comprised of the best and kindest in the business. Part of that build will include leadership training for all of the senior staff, including myself."
