August 16, 2020
The Devil Wears Sweat Pants: Ellen's Lawyers Put Gag Order on Staff, British Magazine Reports
READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Hush little staffers don't you talk, is the lullaby Ellen DeGeneres' lawyers are singing to her staff.
"'Muzzle it. That's the blunt message from Ellen DeGeneres' legal team who have not-so-subtly reminded staff to zip it when it comes to talking to the media," the British Magazine OK! has learned.
"The staff are being told not to talk to the press at all," OK reports in their exclusive conversations with staffers. "If they have any concerns, they should reach out to their supervisors or the investigation team looking into the accusations. Most members of the staff think they can't speak because of legal reasons, when in reality, it has nothing to do with the law, but rather to do with saving Ellen's a**."
But a former alleged staff member called an Australian talk show this past week and compared the work environment to that of the film "The Devil Wears Prada," in which Meryl Streep played the dictatorial head of a chic fashion magazine (her character was modeled on Vogue's Anna Wintour.)
"I worked there for a little over a year," she told radio hosts Stav, Abby & Matt as reported by The Daily Mail. "At the show there is a culture of competition. You are constantly reminded that the show is this behemoth, and it will be there with or without you."
"It's kind of like 'The Devil Wears Prada,' " the woman, who had an American accent, said. "Everyone is trying to make it to the [end of a] year.
"'It's just a badge of honor to have that and have it on your resume."
She also said there was little, if any, interaction with staff members (like herself) and Ellen. And that is policy.
"'Most people are told: 'When Ellen enters the room, you and your entire crew need to leave,' " she told the radio hosts.
"Sometimes her bodyguards come forward first and you kind of see them and you know to leave and that's it."
WarnerMedia is currently investigating the talk show after numerous reports of workplace harassment and sexual assault have surfaced.
