America's Funniest Home Videos accused of being a "hotbed of toxic behavior" with racial and sexual misconduct

The Hollywood Reporter

A trio of female former employees detailed allegations of toxic behavior at Vin Di Bona Productions, America's Funniest Home Videos' production company, telling The Hollywood Reporter they are seeking damages for wrongful termination, harassment, retaliation and emotional distress after alleging they were the victims of workplace racial and sexual harassment. Among them is Columbia Crandell, who alleged sexual harassment in a legal filing last year. "To the casual viewer, ABC’s long-running America’s Funniest Home Videos offers the kind of squeaky clean programming that eschews edge and controversy in favor of wholesome fun," reports The Hollywood Reporter's Tatiana Siegel. "But to some insiders, including Crandell, the production company behind the series was a hotbed of toxic behavior that also included racism. Even more troubling, complaints were met with reprisals, and the alleged offenders were allowed to keep their jobs." An attorney for Vin Di Bona Productions responded, saying in part: "The company retained an external expert, followed recommended protocols and conducted a thorough investigation. That process revealed no evidence of wrongdoing at the time."