In a statement posted to her Instagram, Kelly Clarkson spoke out in support of employees on her syndicated talk show who have reported a toxic workplace environment, according to a Rolling Stone exposé.
Clarkson said if these employees feel “unheard and or disrespected”, it is “unacceptable”.
“In my 20 years in the entertainment industry, I have always been led by my heart and what I feel is right. I love my team on ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show,’ and to find that anyone is feeling unheard or disrespected on this show is unacceptable. He said,
Earlier Friday, Rolling Stone reported Employees feel overworked and underpaid, and trapped in a “toxic” environment. The report cited the employee who said that working on the She Show was “a blow to her mental health.”
According to the report, Clarkson herself is not responsible for the workplace conditions. The negative behind-the-scenes atmosphere was instead blamed on executive producer Alex Duda, who reportedly kept Clarkson from learning about the problem.
“I would be surprised if [Kelly] knew. If they knew staff weren’t being paid for the two-week Christmas break, I’d be fuming,” said a former employee. “Kelly who I interacted with and who everyone knows would probably be very upset to know this.”
In a statement released in response to the report, NBCUniversal, which produces the syndicated series, said: “We are committed to a safe and respectful work environment and take workplace complaints very seriously and lying otherwise is untrue. When reported, they are promptly reviewed, investigated and appropriate action is taken. ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show’ strives to create a safe, respectful and equitable workplace that nurtures a culture of inclusivity and creativity does.