Shortly after a Rolling Stone piece containing stories from current and former staff members of “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” NBCUniversal is responding to the claims alleging a “toxic” work environment behind the scenes.
Several current and former staff members of “The Kelly Clarkson Show” recalled stories of a high-anxiety work environment and depicted a workplace wherein the staff reportedly felt unappreciated by producers.
Many stories claim Clarkson has been kept in the dark over the extent of the staff’s unhappiness, allegedly being kept that way on purpose.
A few hours later, NBCUniversal cleared up the allegations in a statement to Us Weekly.
Several Former And Current Staff Members Of ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show’ Allege Toxicity Behind The Scenes
Multiple accounts named Alex Duda as a concerning presence. Duda is an executive producer who worked with Steve Harvey and Tyra Banks before working on Clarkson’s show.
One account alleges Duda has put staff members in “uncomfortable positions” concerning race. Duda has reportedly asked staff members questions about minority audiences supposedly not engaging with the show.
The person who eventually informed HR of the situation was reportedly shut out of meetings. The former staff member alleges they were “bullied” out of those meetings and eventually departed the show after feeling as if they had been subjected to “perceived retaliation.” (via Rolling Stone, per The AV Club)
Another alleges Duda had acted angrily toward a staffer assigned to work with her, allegedly “screaming and cursing” at them.
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Multiple accounts also mentioned experiencing high levels of anxiety over the alleged environment.
One ex-staff member pursued professional help for the first time in their life due to their experience on “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” leading them to swear off working in daytime television; the report emphasizes that these current and former staff members had plenty of experience working in the rigorous environment of daytime TV, and had been aware of its high-stress atmosphere.
NBCUniversal Comments On The Allegations In A Statement To Us Weekly
NBCUniversal promised action would be taken to investigate the claims made in the Rolling above Stone story.
“We are committed to a safe and respectful work environment and take workplace complaints very seriously,” their statement begins. “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,” the statement concludes.
The statement was delivered to Us Weekly via a spokesperson for the company.
As of this writing, Clarkson has not responded to the allegations; the latest post on her Instagram grid concerns the upcoming single from her latest record, “Chemistry.”
The outlet also reveals Duda has not commented on the allegations at present.
“The Kelly Clarkson Show” can stream via Peacock and the NBC app.
